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As we will be visiting two or three distilleries per day once we arrive to our destination region, you will be tasting many whiskies each day. Please Drink Responsibly And Know Your Limits! If you feel that on some of the days you may not be able to try all the drinks offered, you may want to consider bringing a bunch of small empty bottles (half ounce size or one ounce. Try Amazon or Uline), and some stickers to label them and take them back with you. Although some distilleries may provide driver’s drinks in small bottles, many don’t. So, it’s good to come prepared. While on the tour, it will be impossible to buy them.On our program you’ll see many distilleries mentioned. Although we are planning to visit all of them, on some departures some distilleries may not be available due to distillery renovations and unexpected closings, or various other reasons. In that case we will do our best to replace it with a different distillery. Since we are scheduled to visit all 9 distilleries on Islay, if there is an unexpected closure, we will not be able to substitute for a different distillery.At some of the distilleries we visit, a tour of the distillery is included. However, we will not be touring every distillery. There are two reasons for that. One is that after taking a few distillery tours, it will become repetitive as most distilleries use the same methods more or less in the distillation process. The second reason is that some of the tours are very lengthy and it will not allow us to visit and taste at as many distilleries as we have planned for you.
You will experience many Scotch tastings during our Whisky Expedition. Here are a few examples of tastings you may experience:• During a tour of a distillery you may get to taste a few whiskies, each at a different location in the distillery• You may have a guided tasting where a member of the distillery will guide you through the different drinks• A masterclass in a specific type of Scotch, where a member of the distillery will discuss and guide you through the subject of the tasting (Sherry maturation for example)• A warehouse experience where you will taste whisky straight from the cask• Pairing Scotch with food• A flight of whiskies at the distillery bar
In most cases we will be driven on a 16-passenger bus by a very experienced driver. These small buses are perfect to navigate the narrow roads of Scotland’s countryside. In many cases, your driver will also be your guide/host.
In order to accomplish everything we want to share with you, our days will start early (approx. 8:30am or earlier) to ensure we can see and do everything on our schedule. On some days our driving times will be longer as we need to cover longer distances.
Flights are not included in the tour price. Please book your own flights to and from Edinburgh early enough before departure so you can take advantage of lower fares, and so you can make sure that flights are available on your preferred dates. Please keep in mind that in order to arrive in Edinburgh on Day 1 of the tour, you will have to depart the U.S. on the day before. On the return from Edinburgh to the U.S., most of the flights will arrive on the same day.
All participants on our tours must be at least 18 years old on the day the tour starts.You must carry an ID with you throughout the tour in case you are asked for proof of age at the distilleries.Whisky Expeditions, its staff and its representatives, reserve the right - at their sole discretion - to remove any participant who interferes with the smooth and safe operation of the tour, becomes disruptive, or dangerous to the safety of other tour participants, our staff, or our representatives. Minimum and Maximum number of passengers per group -- All tours must have a minimum of 12 passengers booked per departure in order to operate. The maximum number of passengers per departure is 15. PAYMENT - A deposit of $2000 per person must be paid within 7 days of booking, unless you are already within 92 days or less before departure, in which case, you must pay the full cost of the tour at the time of booking. Final payment is due no later than 92 days prior to your tour departure. (Payment by Zelle is preferred and a 1% discount will be applied).CANCELLATION FEES If you have to cancel your trip for any reason, please be aware that the following cancellation fees will apply:If cancellation is 122 days prior to departure or more - $500 per person If cancellation is 121-91 days prior to departure - $25% of the tour price If cancellation is 90-62 days prior to departure - 65% of the tour price If cancellation is 61 days or less prior to departure - 100% of the tour price If no-show or early departure for any reason - 100% of the tour price****We highly recommend that you purchase a good travel insurance policy that covers cancellation fees amongst other coverages.******
Please let us know if you have any food allergies and we will make every effort to accommodate you.Breakfasts - All breakfasts are included at our hotels. (B)Lunches – Most lunches will be included except when we are in Edinburgh, on a ferry, or if we have free time. In most cases, distilleries have set times for our groups, so we need to work within their timeframe. Therefore, on most of the days, we may not have enough time to sit down comfortably to have a leisurely lunch. As a result of short time and absence of places to eat, our lunches will likely be simple and quick and in most cases, just a sandwich or a boxed lunch, some times enjoyed while on the bus driving to our next appointment. (L)Dinners - Most dinners are included. Some of them will be served at the hotels where we stay in the whisky regions, as there are not many other options. Due to the size and location of some of our restaurants/hotels, most, if not all dinners, will be a set menu for the entire group. You may have to choose your courses the day before so the chef has the right ingredients and quantities to prepare our meal. (D)Drinks During Meals - Drinks during meals are not included unless specifically mentioned in our program. You can order your drinks of choice and pay the restaurant directlyPlease look at the daily itinerary to see which meals are included each day (B), (L), (D).
Scotland's natural availability of vegetables, fruits, oats, fish and other seafood, dairy products and game, is the main factor in traditional Scottish cooking, with a high relience on simplicity, generally hearty, and without the use of rare spices found abroad. Some of the more known dishes include Haggis, a national dish made of sheep's pluck, oatmeal, herbs and spices, and traditionally boiled or baked, Scotch Broth, a hearty soup made with lamb or beef, barley, root vegetables and herbs, Scotch Eggs, hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meet, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep fried, and Cullen Skink, a creamy seafood soup.
With the exception of Edinburgh, hotels in the whisky regions of Scotland, are much smaller. In Speyside or Islay for example, the largest hotel in the area we want to be has only 10 or 15 rooms. We have done our best to choose hotels that are in close proximity to the distilleries we visit while still keeping a good standard of accommodation. Please keep in mind that check-in time at most hotels is 4pm. If you arrive earlier, your room may or may not be ready but you are welcome to leave your luggage with the front desk so you can go and explore without being encumbered. Check-out time at most hotels is 11am. On the last day, if your return flight is later, you are welcome to leave your luggage at the front desk until your departure time.We are using the following hotels or similar:Edinburgh -The W Hotel EdinburghOban -Oban Bay Hotel Speyside - The Dowans Hotel in Aberlour orThe Station Hotel in Rothes Islay -The Lochside Hotel in Bowmore or The Bowmore Hotel in BowmoreCampbeltown area -Stonefield Castle
Hotel rooms in the UK and Europe are much smaller than in the US. Also, in the smaller hotels in the countryside, in many cases the room size, shape, decor, type of beds, etc., may be different in each and every room. Rooms are assigned arbitrarily by the hotel and we have no advanced knowledge of which rooms our guests are assigned.
No matter the time of year, the weather in Scotland can be unpredictable. We suggest that you bring suitable clothing for all weather conditions including a waterproof jacket and layerable clothing, comfortable walking shoes for short walks on rough or uneven terrain, small umbrella, a hat, some cash (the Pound Sterling GBP is the official local currency), a power plug travel adapter for Type G outlets. DRESS CODE - Totally casual the entire time. No need for any business casual, but you are welcome to bring if you feel more comfortable. YOUR LUGGAGE ALLOWANCEDue to the size of our vehicles, you are limited to one small/medium piece of luggage per person (a carry-on is perfect), along with one small handbag or backpack.
INSURANCE - It is your personal responsibility to have adequate travel insurance that covers every eventuality including but not limited to - medical treatments, medicines, cancellations and getting home. PARTICIPANT COURTESY - Please be on time for all departures. One person late will effect the rest of the group and may cause a late arrival to a scheduled tour or tasting. Many distilleries are not very flexible when it comes to missing a scheduled tour or tasting time and may not accommodate us as a result.FINAL DOCUMENTS - You will receive your final tour documents about 2-3 weeks before departure where you will find more specific information about your exact hotels and addresses, your guide/host's name, and other useful information. Please make sure to review it all prior to departure.
A valid passport is required to travel on our tours. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. Starting in January, 2025, all U.S. passengers arriving in the U.K. will be required to fill out and pay a fee for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The current cost (as of January, 2025), is 10 Pounds. The application is completed online and takes about 10 minutes. You may get your response immediately, but in some cases it can take 3 days or longer until you receive your confirmation, so please do not wait until the last minute to make your application. To apply, go to:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#apply-for-an-eta
