Fettercairn Distillery

Fettercairn Distillery is located in Aberdeenshire on the edge of the Eastern Highlands, where it produces a uniquely fruity and tropical-style single malt. Set beneath the Cairngorm foothills, it is known for its unusual cooling ring stills and innovative approach to spirit character.

Come closer and discover Fettercairn – the home of enlightened whisky making. From its very beginnings they've done things a little differently in the pursuit of their distinctively tropical single malt whisky.

About Fettercairn Distillery

Founded in 1824, Fettercairn is one of Scotland’s historic Highland distilleries and is widely recognised for its innovative distillation process. The signature cooling ring on the stills drips water down the outside of the copper, creating a unique reflux effect that contributes to its light, tropical fruit character.

The distillery balances traditional heritage with experimental spirit production, resulting in a modern portfolio built on a very distinctive house style.

Fettercairn Distillery Tours & Experiences

Taste of Fettercairn Tour £20

Enjoy a tour around our distillery followed by a trio of our distinctive Highland Single Malts. We would love to welcome you to our Distillery here at Fettercairn, where we will tell stories from our past and present and share our hopes for the future. You will enjoy a tour around our production area, learn about our unique distillation process, visit one of our warehouses, before being led back to our new visitor centre where you will enjoy a three-dram tasting.

Duration: 1hr15mins

Taste of Imagination Tour £50

Enjoy a tour around our distillery followed by a five-dram tasting showcasing our flavour-led whiskies. We would love to welcome you to our Distillery here at Fettercairn, where we will tell stories from our past and present and share our hopes for the future. You will enjoy a tour around our production area, learn about our unique distillation process, visit one of our warehouses, before being led back to our fresh new visitor centre where you will get to enjoy five different expressions that celebrate our innovative approach to whisky making.

Duration: 1hr30mins

The Guager's Tour: Bottle Your Own Experience (from) £60

Step back in time and learn all about illicit distilling, whisky smuggling and the life of an exciseman. Your visit will include a guided tour of our distillery, followed by a stop in one of our warehouses, where you will be able to hear what it was like to be an exciseman or 'gauger' working at the distillery, and taste a sample of Gauger's Reserve. Enter into his office and be transported back in time to days gone by. We have a specially selected cask of whisky and visitors will be able to hand fill their bottle, complete the labels and record their details in a ledger. Finish with a 3 dram tasting back at our Visitor Centre.

(Pricing: £60 for the tour and tasting only. The additional cost to fill a bottle is £120 payable at the Visitor Centre

Duration: 2hrs 30mins

Plan Your Visit to Fettercairn Distillery

Address:

Distillery Road, Fettercairn,Aberdeenshire, AB30 1YB

Tour:

This distillery is included as part of our Tayside, Fife... and beyond tour.

Opening Times:

Wed-Sat 10am-4.30pm

Facilities:

Visitor centre and tasting room
Whisky shop with distillery releases
Parking available

Podcast

In the April 2023 edition of the Distillery Tours podcast we spoke to Andrew Lennie, Single Malt Specialist at Whyte & Mackay.

Andrew tells us all about Jura, Fettercairn and Tamnavulin distilleries; their history, the brilliant malts they produce and why we should visit! He also talks about some of the new expressions we can look forward to tasting in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What experiences are available at Fettercairn Distillery?

Fettercairn Distillery offers a range of guided whisky experiences including the Taste of Fettercairn Tour, the Taste of Imagination Tour, and the premium Gauger’s Tour, which includes bottle-your-own whisky. Visitors can explore the distillery’s unique cooling ring stills, learn about its innovative tropical-style whisky production, and enjoy guided tastings of Fettercairn single malt.

How long does a Fettercairn Distillery tour take?

Most Fettercairn Distillery experiences last between 1 hour 15 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the tour selected. The Taste of Fettercairn Tour lasts around 1 hour 15 minutes, while the Gauger’s Tour can extend to approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is whisky tasting included at Fettercairn Distillery?

Yes, whisky tasting is included in all Fettercairn Distillery experiences. Guests typically enjoy a guided tasting of multiple Fettercairn single malts, with premium tours offering expanded tasting flights or additional warehouse samples.

Do I need to book Fettercairn Distillery tours in advance?

Advance booking is strongly recommended for Fettercairn Distillery tours, as experiences run on scheduled times and group sizes are limited, particularly during peak travel periods.

What are the opening hours of Fettercairn Distillery Visitor Centre?

Fettercairn Distillery Visitor Centre is generally open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm, with the last tour typically running mid-afternoon. The distillery is closed Sunday to Tuesday. Opening times may vary seasonally.

Is Fettercairn Distillery family friendly?

Fettercairn Distillery is family friendly in visitor centre areas such as the shop and reception. However, distillery tours and tastings are intended for adult visitors, with age restrictions applying to alcohol experiences.

Is Fettercairn Distillery accessible?

Fettercairn Distillery offers accessible visitor facilities in key areas, including the visitor centre and tasting rooms. Some production and warehouse areas may have limited accessibility due to stairs or industrial surfaces, so visitors are advised to contact the distillery in advance.

Is parking available at Fettercairn Distillery?

Yes, parking is available for visitors at Fettercairn Distillery, including on-site parking close to the visitor centre.

Does Fettercairn Distillery have a café or shop?

Fettercairn Distillery has a visitor shop offering whisky, gifts and distillery merchandise as well as a tasting room/bar. Some experiences include tasting flights, but there is no full café on site.

Where is Fettercairn Distillery located?

Fettercairn Distillery is located in Fettercairn near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in the eastern Highlands region.