The Balvenie Distillery
The Balvenie Distillery
5
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Thanks to natural alchemy and centuries-old craftsmanship, The Balvenie is unique among single malts. Our whisky-making process is dedicated to maintaining the Five Rare Crafts and we are the only distillery in Scotland that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both a coppersmith and a team of coopers on site. And of course, our Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie presides over the all-important maturation process. Making The Balvenie the most hand-crafted of single malts.
Dufftown, Scotland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
377 reviews
Excellent
340
Very good
17
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
11
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Scotty M
Edinburgh, UK35 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
I was treated by my grown up sons to this exceptional whisky distillery tour at Balvanie and I can’t recommend it enough.
We were met by Charlie who was our guide for the day and from the outset it was evident this tour was going to be a cracker. Charlie had a very relaxed and tranquil manner, it was clear he had a passion for the Balvanie brand, its traditions and the ethics the family run distillery holds dear. Charlies knowledge of the history and origins of the distillery, the processes and the care and attention that goes into creating this phenomenal whisky was exceptional. The tour moved us around this amazing site and at each stage we were given nuggets of detail and history that kept the tour intriguing and personal.
The whisky tasting after the tour was a fantastic experience, not only due to the superb whisky we were lucky enough to try, but also because of the knowledge, passion and flair in which Charlie delivered the intricacies of the individual whiskies themselves.
Thank you Charlie, you made our day.
We were met by Charlie who was our guide for the day and from the outset it was evident this tour was going to be a cracker. Charlie had a very relaxed and tranquil manner, it was clear he had a passion for the Balvanie brand, its traditions and the ethics the family run distillery holds dear. Charlies knowledge of the history and origins of the distillery, the processes and the care and attention that goes into creating this phenomenal whisky was exceptional. The tour moved us around this amazing site and at each stage we were given nuggets of detail and history that kept the tour intriguing and personal.
The whisky tasting after the tour was a fantastic experience, not only due to the superb whisky we were lucky enough to try, but also because of the knowledge, passion and flair in which Charlie delivered the intricacies of the individual whiskies themselves.
Thank you Charlie, you made our day.
Written 14 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr_Ted70_
Scarborough, UK4 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We recently did the 2.5 hours Balvenie distillery tour and it was excellent.
The tour takes you through the entire whisky-making process from malt arriving on site through the mashing and distilling stages and ending in the warehouses to understand the importance of casks to the final flavour. This part of the tour is great because you can draw a bottle straight from a barrel (bourbon, sherry or one of each) to take home, which is a great personalised souvenir. The tour isn’t rushed at all and you learn a lot about Balvenie and the whiskies it makes.
The tour ends with a tasting session of 5 whiskies, which is a lot of fun and the guide talks you through the different samples, the stories behind them and the flavours. Our guide was Drew and he was really excellent: very friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining and very happy to answer everyone’s questions.
Booking in advance is essential as the tour is limited to 8 people and it’s the only way of visiting this prestigious distillery. So, the places get fully booked pretty fast, which isn’t surprising as it is a great tour. Given the limited numbers on the tour it is a very intimate insight into the distillery and you really feel like a Balvenie VIP!
I can’t recommend this tour highly enough and I would definitely do it again in the future.
The tour takes you through the entire whisky-making process from malt arriving on site through the mashing and distilling stages and ending in the warehouses to understand the importance of casks to the final flavour. This part of the tour is great because you can draw a bottle straight from a barrel (bourbon, sherry or one of each) to take home, which is a great personalised souvenir. The tour isn’t rushed at all and you learn a lot about Balvenie and the whiskies it makes.
The tour ends with a tasting session of 5 whiskies, which is a lot of fun and the guide talks you through the different samples, the stories behind them and the flavours. Our guide was Drew and he was really excellent: very friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining and very happy to answer everyone’s questions.
Booking in advance is essential as the tour is limited to 8 people and it’s the only way of visiting this prestigious distillery. So, the places get fully booked pretty fast, which isn’t surprising as it is a great tour. Given the limited numbers on the tour it is a very intimate insight into the distillery and you really feel like a Balvenie VIP!
I can’t recommend this tour highly enough and I would definitely do it again in the future.
Written 27 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeahAnn
9 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
This was a fantastic tour experience! James was our guide and an encyclopedia of scotch knowledge. Learned so much and the dram tasting after was phenomenal with multiple tastings.
Our tour was $50 GBP, 2.5 hours with 8 people total on the tour. Apparently they are booked 6 months in advance so must email them immediately if you want to book a tour.
Our tour was $50 GBP, 2.5 hours with 8 people total on the tour. Apparently they are booked 6 months in advance so must email them immediately if you want to book a tour.
Written 9 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
danandang96
Goshen, IN7 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
This tour is a step back in time and differs from many others in its complete coverage of ALL the distinct crafts involved in whisky production. The behind the scenes look into the process in the manner it has been done for centuries felt completely authentic, staying true to the story of who The Balvenie is as a distillery.
Our guide, Brian, was truly phenomenal. He initially met up with us by just making sure that we found the car park. The entire tour felt less like a rehearsed speech and more like storytelling, speaking to the character of The Balvenie and the people behind the craft in ways that felt like we were being let in on the secret recipe.
When you spend decades in appreciation for a product and grow in admiration of a brand, then get an opportunity to truly experience a few of the people behind the incredible brand and product, it can bring the experience full circle. The Balvenie leaves you with an unapologetic sense of history and tradition and a keen indication of self-awareness and pride.
Booking three months in advance, when the booking opens up for the month you will be in Speyside, is absolutely required. So plan ahead!
Our guide, Brian, was truly phenomenal. He initially met up with us by just making sure that we found the car park. The entire tour felt less like a rehearsed speech and more like storytelling, speaking to the character of The Balvenie and the people behind the craft in ways that felt like we were being let in on the secret recipe.
When you spend decades in appreciation for a product and grow in admiration of a brand, then get an opportunity to truly experience a few of the people behind the incredible brand and product, it can bring the experience full circle. The Balvenie leaves you with an unapologetic sense of history and tradition and a keen indication of self-awareness and pride.
Booking three months in advance, when the booking opens up for the month you will be in Speyside, is absolutely required. So plan ahead!
Written 11 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DoglawyerATX
Austin, TX170 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Wow! This tour was a delight! Best of the trip and of any distillery we have ever visited for any spirit anywhere in the world! Jeff was our guide and he was great. He knows the product and the process and everything that makes Balvenie unique. We were shown the malting room (rare for a distillery to hand malt their own barley - so this was so cool) and Jeff explained the process very well. We were also allowed to taste the mash at different stages of fermentation (the sweet water and the beer) in the Washback room. SO COOL! But then it got cooler, because we were able to taste a couple of whiskys direct from the casks in the aging warehouse. And then we were given the opportunity to fill our own little bottle directly from the cask for purchase. Um, yes please! So cool! Then we did the tasting! And we had samples of some rare and expensive bottles, not just the stuff you see at your local liquor store. Jeff walked us through the tasting, passing around the bottles and explaining the differences of each whisky in both taste and the process that gave it that flavor. The tour lasted about 3 hours - much longer than others we had done. We actually had to rush out to our next tour, and wish we had more time to spend. The time flew by and we enjoyed our time with Jeff and our new whisky loving friends.
Written 8 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guido Roelfstra
Orbe, Switzerland2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Splendid complete visit, a super friendly host (Bryan), who gives us a complete immersion in this family distillery which itself does all the operations from growing their own cereals to bottling. The touch of the cereals upon their arrival, after germination and drying, the different vats opened to feel the evolution of the fermentation, the tasting straight from the barrel of 2 whiskeys poured into the hands with a copper dog, the sampling yourself of small bottles of fine vintages numbered, signed, dated and referenced by hand to take away for a modest fee and to finish off a tasting of 5 great house whiskeys... well worth the price... highly recommended!!! We ended up with 2x2 people more than the 4 of us, making a small group of 8, an excellent size for the visit. Thank you to our hosts.
Written 1 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KulHKJ
Uxbridge, UK1,617 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
I had seen previous reviews and I can honestly say that this tour is the most interactive tour ever! From the greeting and welcome from James our ambassador for the day and the time snd knowledge he shared with us! I can’t say thanks enough. He took us from the start of the process all the way through to the end product. Explaining every thing in detail, we were very lucky to try the actual grains and brew at different stages of fermentation, we got to try the new make whisky and a fantastic tasting at the end. Don’t get me wrong tours like at The Macallan are great snd have a modern twist, but this is the most interactive and interesting tour at £50 per head. Highly recommend this for a half day tour!! Thanks again James
Written 31 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill C
West Branch, MI127 contributions
Aug 2023
When they cancel a tour they should refund you within a fair amount of time like other distilleries 5-7 days, NOT 8 WEEKS AND ON GOING! SEE BELOW and we still haven’t received anything!
We have emailed them below they are on vacation and/or sending automatic replies which states they are to busy to respond!
Date: June 19, 2023 at 7:58:52 AM EDT
To: bookings balvenie
Subject: Cancellation of Balvenie Tour.
Dear Guest,
It is with regret that we must inform you of the cancellation to your Balvenie Tour.
The site will be in full maintenance shutdown from 14th August and won’t reopen for tours around the process areas until the 4th September.
We have only just had these dates confirmed and want to apologise for the disappointment that this may have caused.
We will arrange a full refund to be credited back to your payment card.
As an alternative option we have decided to offer guided tastings for £30 per person in our Balvenie Tasting Room, which will include 5 excellent drams of Balvenie. We could offer this to you at your existing time slot and these can be paid on arrival at the Balvenie Visitor Centre.
These spaces will not be routinely kept for you, so if you would like them please do get back in touch to confirm your attendance.
Once again, please accept our apologies.
Kind regards
Kerry
Kerry Milton
We have emailed them below they are on vacation and/or sending automatic replies which states they are to busy to respond!
Date: June 19, 2023 at 7:58:52 AM EDT
To: bookings balvenie
Subject: Cancellation of Balvenie Tour.
Dear Guest,
It is with regret that we must inform you of the cancellation to your Balvenie Tour.
The site will be in full maintenance shutdown from 14th August and won’t reopen for tours around the process areas until the 4th September.
We have only just had these dates confirmed and want to apologise for the disappointment that this may have caused.
We will arrange a full refund to be credited back to your payment card.
As an alternative option we have decided to offer guided tastings for £30 per person in our Balvenie Tasting Room, which will include 5 excellent drams of Balvenie. We could offer this to you at your existing time slot and these can be paid on arrival at the Balvenie Visitor Centre.
These spaces will not be routinely kept for you, so if you would like them please do get back in touch to confirm your attendance.
Once again, please accept our apologies.
Kind regards
Kerry
Kerry Milton
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KTLim99
1,309 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
A very informative and wonderful tour - from barley to casking. Owners still stay conservative - manual & traditional 2 - times copper distilled methods.
Brian, whisky guide was fantastic host and teacher on the art of whisky making. It's all about Barley, Water and Time to produce great whiskies.
Recommended to visit first to get the basics. Finale was great- we had tasting of 12 year old, 14, 16, 19 and top up with a 21 year old. American Oak, French Oak, Caribbean Cask. Malt Master - David Stewart passed the baton to apprentice Kelsey McKechnie. 250K £ for a 50 year old at 2024 prices - liquid gold!
Brian, whisky guide was fantastic host and teacher on the art of whisky making. It's all about Barley, Water and Time to produce great whiskies.
Recommended to visit first to get the basics. Finale was great- we had tasting of 12 year old, 14, 16, 19 and top up with a 21 year old. American Oak, French Oak, Caribbean Cask. Malt Master - David Stewart passed the baton to apprentice Kelsey McKechnie. 250K £ for a 50 year old at 2024 prices - liquid gold!
Written 8 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris
16 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
A must visit when in the Speyside area of Scotland.
A truly enjoyable, informative, comprehensive and fun tour.
If you want to see all the steps of whisky making from barley malting right through mashing, distilling, to cask making then you can see it all here at Balvenie.
The tour guide had a huge depth of knowledge. She could talk to people with little knowledge of whiskey and also discuss the finer details with experienced whisky drinkers / collectors.
There’s a nice surprise as part of the tour too, before the final tasting. You’ll know what I mean when you’ve done the tour!
Book in advance, and enjoy the experience.
A truly enjoyable, informative, comprehensive and fun tour.
If you want to see all the steps of whisky making from barley malting right through mashing, distilling, to cask making then you can see it all here at Balvenie.
The tour guide had a huge depth of knowledge. She could talk to people with little knowledge of whiskey and also discuss the finer details with experienced whisky drinkers / collectors.
There’s a nice surprise as part of the tour too, before the final tasting. You’ll know what I mean when you’ve done the tour!
Book in advance, and enjoy the experience.
Written 5 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, I would like to ask if you have to be 18 to take the tour as I am planning a family trip to Scotland and would love to visit this place however I do have two teenagers under 18 and wanted to know if I would be able to still do the tour. Many Thanks.
Written 11 April 2021
What is the best way to travel to there without a car?
Written 29 October 2020
Did you get a tour through the website link or call to get one? I have followed the website link twice with no response and would very much like to get a tour. Should I call for one or is the no response mean they are full? thanks
Written 18 February 2020
Hello ,
Try this contact:
Gillian Bremner
Administration Support
William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd
Direct +44 1340 822034
distillerybookings(@)thebalvenie(.)com
Second Phone number + (44) 1340 822 210
Dont miss this tour. It disputes the best distillery tour in Scotland with Glenfiddich. Even better , go to both!. Excellent tours.
Written 18 February 2020
If you choose to bottle your own whisky for an extra £30, which whisky is it?
Written 12 November 2019
You can select from 3 different casks they take you during the tour.
Written 15 January 2020
how many whiskys do you get to taste on this tour?
Written 23 September 2019
Hi
We had 5 plus a 6th drawn from a cask in warehouse which was a 28 yr old.
The best tour I have done so far.
Written 17 October 2019
I'm traveling with a group of six in July and would like to go through the Balvenie. What's the best way to do this or better question would be how is the best way to do this
Written 14 January 2019
Contact the distillery and try to book a tour. They have very limited number of spots, so best to contact them early and try to get a reservation
Written 5 February 2019
the fill your own balvenie , how much does it cost? how much ml do u get to fill?
Written 12 July 2018
We paid $30 for a small bottle, maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of a 750 bottle. Cask strength ~62% alcohol. Totally worth it. Delish.
Written 12 July 2018
Is there a tour that goes there or do we book and go on our own .
Written 15 May 2018
Thier is a very comprihensive tour which lasts a few hours, it is bespoke with a small group, but it is the best tour to go on as it is a full comprihensive education in how whisky is made. A good range of complimentary drams to drink, if you go to
"moray firth tours and transport " they will deliver you and pick you up, it is recomended by myself to have lunch first at Glenfiddich next door then go on your tour, or you could do Glenfiddich first, then lunch then Balvenie, now that is a good day out, you will sleep well after, enjoy
Written 16 May 2018
janetjusa
Chicago, Illinois
I’ve sent 2 emails regarding scheduling a tour and haven’t heard back from distillery. What’s the usual response time? Should I call directly? Thanks
J. Johnson
Written 27 April 2018
I would contact direct via phone, they are generally very good at visitor PR so i am sure they will be very helpfull. With regards the e-mails and slow response we have had a whisky festival here recently so it could be they were very busy, but mention it when you speak to them. Happy whisky tasting
Written 15 May 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.