I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery in Perthshire a couple of times now and genuinely believe it’s one of the best whisky tours in Scotland. Not only do they have a fantastic and welcoming team who really know their stuff, but they are incredibly generous with the whisky you get to try. especially on The Whisky Explorer Tour! Visiting the distillery is a great opportunity to see an old distillery, learn more about its history and founders Tommy & John Dewar and also see a modern tour which has done a great job at combining the charm of the past with looking toward the future. So let me tell you more about the experiences and tours at Aberfeldy Distillery along with some whisky picks and hotel recommendations nearby in one of my favourite parts of Scotland.
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery in Scotland
There is a plethora of fun facts about this distillery. Which is one of the reason I think it’s such a fun one to visit. I have been working in the whisky industry in Scotland for nearly a decade and Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery is still one of my favourite distilleries in Scotland. The Aberfeldy 16 year old whisky was one of the first whiskies on my whisky shelves and I still love how smooth and fruity this dram is. Definitely a recommendation if you want to try whisky from Aberfeldy.
Aberfeldy whisky is often referred to as ‘the golden dram’. This is a little nod to the water source – the Pitilie Burn. The burn is known to contain deposits of alluvial gold. There is a nice short walk along the river near the water source that I would recommend if you have the time. It will literally only take 5-10 minutes of your time to go see.
Although I love seeing any distilleries, it is always particularly fun to see old distilleries. Aberfeldy Distillery began production in Scotland back in 1898 meaning whisky has been made in this very site for over 128 years!
Fun fact: I can also recommend learning more about one of the founders, Tommy Dewar. Furthermore, he was a pioneer within marketing and also one of the first people in Britain to buy a car.
Moa’s whisky recommendations: Aberfeldy 16 Year Old and Dewar’s Double Double 27 Year Old.
Which tour would I recommend?
My recommended tour is The Whisky Explorer Tour as you get to see the distillery properly but also try some fantastic whiskies. The line up for our visit included the Dewar’s Double Double 27 Year Old which I really love. As well as the old and rare Aberfeldy 40 Year Old. I don’t think I have ever seen a 40 Year Old whisky available on a distillery tour before!
How to get to Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
The distillery is located around a 1 hour and 45 minute drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. You can also get the train to Pitlochry and a 30 minute taxi to the distillery. Or the 24 bus via Ballinluig and then the 34A, 23 or 897 bus to Aberfeldy.
Hotels near Aberfeldy Distillery in the Perthshire area – some of Scotland’s best spots
The Perthshire area around Aberfeldy is one of my favourite parts of Scotland to visit as there is such gorgeous nature around and many walks, restaurants, hotels and cafés to explore. Some of the best hotels in the country can also be found here. No matter if you are looking for boutique charm at Pine Trees Hotel, staying in a castle at Fonab Castle or want to treat yourself to elegant luxury at The Gleneagles. And they are all located within an hour of the distillery. I’m also writing a more extensive guide to the best hotels in the Perthshire area, near to the distillery. (coming soon! 👩💻)
- Dun Aluinn – from £323 per night
- The Grandtully Hotel – from £200 per night
- Fortingall – from £270 per night
- Pine Trees Hotel – from £140 per night
- Fonab Castle – from £248 per night
- Dunalastair Hotel Suites – from £206 per night
- The Gleneagles – from £495 per night
Aberfeldy Distillery Whisky Tour
This is the tour for those who want to see the distillery and learn more about how they make whisky. You also get to try two contrasting whiskies. One from the Dewar’s blended whisky range and one Aberfeldy single malt. Furthermore, should you want to try more whiskies after the tour then you can add on an optional tasting. Or visit the bar in the visitor centre.
Additional details
- Price: £25 per person
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Drams included: 2 whiskies
The Whisky Explorer Tour
This is the tour that I did on my most recent visit to the distillery. And I absolutely loved it! The tour starts with a little cinema experience as an introduction to the distillery and its team – and you get a whisky to enjoy alongside it. I definitely think you can tell that there is such a wonderful team behind it all. And for me it was particularly fun to see some whisky friends show up on the screen, like Matthew who is the global brand ambassador for the distillery and also just one of the nicest people in the industry.
After the cinema you get time to explore a self-guided section where you can see and learn more about the whisky and the Dewar’s brothers and their genius marketing ideas around the late 1800’s. Once your tour guide collects you it’s time to see the distillery production areas followed by the tasting which takes place in one of the old warehouses.
I was already having a lovely tour – and our guide Tam was just brilliant throughout it all – but when I then saw the tasting line up I was quite amazed. The five whiskies included in the line up are all fairly rare and old so it was such a treat to get to try them all. It’s one of the most generous tasting line ups I have ever seen at a distillery tour. I think it reflects well on the distillery and how welcoming they are to share their whisky with their guests to have an experience like this available to those wanting to visit. So that is why this is my recommended tour if you want a proper Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery whisky experience when you are visiting this part of Scotland.
Additional details
- Price: £65 per person
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Drams included: 6 whiskies
Dewar’s Whisky Blending Masterclass
Since Aberfeldy is so linked with the Dewar’s range of blended whisky considering it was the Dewar brothers who founded the distillery, it makes so much sense having a whisky blending masterclass available. I recently did a blending masterclass at The Glenturret as part of the same trip where I visited Aberfeldy and it’s quite fascinating how difficult it is. But I find it’s a great way to get a better understanding and respect for the work of the master blenders, like Stephanie Macleod who works for Dewar’s.
It’s really good fun and especially in good company and you can compare and judge each others blends. As part of the experience you try five different styles of whiskies to then decide which ones you want to include in your blend – and how much of each. After you’ve decided the contents of your very own blend you get a 100ml bottle of it to take home. A completely unique one of a kind whisky, blended by you!
Although blended whisky sometimes gets a bad reputation because it’s more affordable, I personally think there are blended whiskies that are better than single malts. Just because a whisky classifies as a single malt does not mean it’s automatically better.
What is single malt vs blended whisky? A single malt is a whisky made in one single distillery, from malted barley and double distilled through copper pot stills. A blended whisky is a blend of single malt whisky and grain whisky (made from a column still distillation and/or other grains like corn, wheat or rye).
Additional details
- Price: £55 per person
- Duration: 60 minutes
FAQ – Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
Yes, Aberfeldy Distillery has a café open to all where you can buy sweet treats or lighter lunches.
The distillery is located right on the outskirts of the town of Aberfeldy in Perthshire.
There are many walks and sights to see in the Perthshire area around Aberfeldy. Here are some recommendations: visit the Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier, go for the Birks of Aberfeldy walk or do white water rafting in the Tay.
I think the best tour at Aberfeldy Distillery is The Whisky Explorers Tour since it gives you the opportunity to try some fantastic whiskies!
If you want to stay in a hotel near to the Aberfeldy Distillery in Scotland I would recommend Dun Aluinn, The Grandtully or The Fortingall.
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- The Glenturret Distillery: Whisky Tours & Two Michelin Star Lalique Restaurant
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Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
