📌 Craigellachie, Moray
★★★
An industry as big as Scotch whisky requires an efficient supply chain, and you might be wondering – where do all the whisky barrels come from? The answer is: most are sourced from the United States, where casks can only be used once for bourbon whisky maturation. In Scotland, the rules are less strict, and the resulting whisky acquires flavour both from the previous contents and from the oak itself. Before these second-hand casks are re-used, they need to be refurbished, and this is where Speyside Cooperage comes in. Since 1947, skilled coopers have been repairing and casks to make them fit for storing whisky again, currently handling around 150,000 barrels annually. Tour groups understandably aren’t allowed on the factory floor for safety reasons, but an elevated walkway provides good views of the process through glass panels, backed up by information displays and a 4-D film with a few unexpected special effects.
🌍 Location
📌 By the A941 0.5 mi south of Craigellachie village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NJ 293442
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.482544,-3.180963
🚌 Bus stops on A941 at south end of Craigellachie
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Weekdays – booking required
🎫 £10 adult / £6 child depending on tour type
