📌 Pencaitland, East Lothian
★★★★
Attractively-sited Glenkinchie (kinch pronounced like pinch) is the closest malt whisky distillery to Edinburgh: a popular 15-mile hop from the city centre by car (or by shuttle bus booked through the distillery). Its southerly location puts it firmly inside the Lowland whisky region, which has a reputation for lighter, grassier flavours than other parts of the country; this is the Lowland “hub” distillery for Johnnie Walker, and has benefitted from recent major renovation. Glenkinchie’s specific taste is influenced by its large stills – the biggest in mainland Scotland – while at the other end of the scale, the exhibition area features a beautifully crafted distillery model filling a whole room. Other details to look out for include the old furnace and kiln, and the dramming bell: originally rung to invite workers for their free drams several times a day. Suffice to say the practice of keeping staff drunk on the job has ceased! Our pics below are from before the latest refurbishment.
🌍 Location
📌 By minor road 1 mi south of Pencaitland
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 444667
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.890775,-2.891404
🚌 Distillery operates a shuttle bus from Edinburgh. There’s also a very infrequent public bus
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily
🎫 £19+ adult depending on tour type / £9.50 child
