They also operate a shuttle bus to and from Edinburgh, so you can try all their whiskies without having to worry about the drive back!
Ask people to free associate words with Scotland and you will probably hear tartan, haggis, bagpipes, Braveheart — and whisky. It is Scotland’s national drink, and has been produced here for centuries: the first records of production date back to 1494 when Friar John Cor was granted the king’s commission to make ‘acqua vitae’ — the water of life (read: eye-watering grog).
The Glenkinchie Distillery is one of Scotland’s most famous. Found roughly 15 miles from Edinburgh, it lies just south of the picturesque village of Pencaitland and draws its water from the Lammermuir Hills. Founded by John and George Rate in around 1825, it’s renowned for its single malt whiskey, known as ‘the Edinburgh malt’.
A history of whisky
In 1969 the Glenkinchie distillery stopped malting its own grain and the malting floors were converted into a museum of malt whisky. Here you can find an example of an illicit still, a large scale model of a distillery, and a variety of displays that introduce you to the principles of malt production.
Browse the wares
After the education, you’ll want to sample a few drams. The standard 12-year-old Glenkinchie is described as fresh and light in character, with notes of lemon and cut grass and a hint of peat. It was crowned the Best Lowland Single Malt at the 2013 World Whiskies Awards. The 14-year-old Distiller’s Edition is double matured in Amontillado sherry casks, which add an extra something special.
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