Glenkinchie Distillery

Glenkinchie Distillery is located in East Lothian, surrounded by farmland and countryside just outside Edinburgh. Known as the “Edinburgh Malt”, it offers visitors an accessible introduction to Lowland whisky and is one of the Four Corners distilleries at the heart of the Johnnie Walker portfolio.

Glenkinchie proudly serves as one of the Four Corners of Scotland distilleries of Johnnie Walker. We distil the Edinburgh Malt that is enjoyed around the world on its own and as a vital component of Johnnie Walker whiskies.

About Glenkinchie Distillery

Founded in 1825, Glenkinchie is one of Scotland’s historic Lowland distilleries. Its whisky is known for a light, floral character, reflecting traditional Lowland production methods and the gentle style associated with the region.

Following major investment, the distillery now features an extensive visitor centre designed to showcase whisky-making, regional heritage, and the role Glenkinchie plays in Johnnie Walker blends.

Glenkinchie Distillery Tours & Experiences

Glenkinchie Flavour Journey £21

Full-sensory tour and tutored whisky tasting.

Join us on a journey through Glenkinchie’s storied landscape and rich heritage, filled with passionate people and a quest to capture the essence of East Lothian through our flavourful field-to-glass whisky process.

Your full-sensory tour* culminates in a tutored whisky tasting of 3 drams and a wee cocktail in our Tasting Room – a delicious ending to a wonderful adventure at the Lowland Home of Johnnie Walker.

Duration: 1hr 30mins

Glenkinchie Flavour & Cask Experience £65

In addition to toasting special moments in time, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to enjoy a dram drawn straight from the Cask.

Duration: 2hrs

Glenkinchie Hidden Lowland Tour & Tasting £150

Designed for the aficionado of extraordinary whiskies, great stories and adventure. It features an in-depth tour, including areas normally inaccessible to guests.

Immerse yourself in the process that goes into making a bottle of malt whisky here at Glenkinchie, the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker. Follow our process from grain to glass, following the product at every stage. Set your eyes on parts of the Distillery that are invisible on our other tours, enjoying the opportunity to truly understand how years of practice and experience have allowed us to arrive at where we are today.

After seeing the process behind crafting our new make spirit, travel further down the line and taste some extremely rare and exclusive Glenkinchie whiskies that have spent years maturing in our oak casks. You will leave with a new found perception of how Whisky is crafted and a depth of appreciation for the endless opportunities we have for shaping the perfect style of Lowland Single Malt Whisky.

Duration: 2hrs 30mins

From Cask to Glass £40

This tutored tasting experience offers a rare opportunity to visit our atmospheric Filling Store, sampling two unique whiskies drawn straight from the cask. In addition, you'll taste our distillery exclusive hand-fill whisky. Enjoy these in a special glass that is yours to keep.

Duration: 1hr

The Ultimate Edinburgh Whisky Experience: Johnnie Walker & Glenkinchie £450

Join our whisky experts for an unforgettable luxury exploration of the renowned Johnnie Walker and Glenkinchie whiskies in this immersive and intimate experience.

Start your afternoon at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, embarking on the interactive 5* Journey of Flavour Experience, where you'll learn about the spectacular Johnnie Walker blends and enjoy three whisky cocktails tailored to your taste profile. After the experience, you will receive a specially engraved dram glass as a souvenir.

Next, enjoy a delicious, locally sourced 2-course lunch showcasing the finest Scottish ingredients and a non-alcoholic cocktail as you soak up the breathtaking views overlooking Edinburgh Castle from the 1820 bar. After lunch, you will be whisked away to Glenkinchie Distillery, the Lowland Home of Johnnie Walker, via private transport through the East Lothian countryside. where you'll see a working distillery and learn all about Glenkinchie whisky and its role in the Johnnie Walker blend.

Upon arrival at Glenkinchie, you'll be welcomed to delve into the rich heritage and passion behind their exceptional single malt whiskies on an expert-guided tour. You'll then have the opportunity to draw two special cask strength drams of your choosing. To conclude the experience, each guest will have the opportunity to hand-fill and engrave their own bottle of whisky to take home as a memento of a spectacular day. Transport back to Edinburgh will be provided at the end of the tour.

Duration: 6hrs

Plan Your Visit to Glenkinchie Distillery

Address:

Pencaitland, Tranent, East Lothian EH34 5ET. Just 15 miles from the capital, Glenkinchie is the Edinburgh Malt - pay us a visit in our breathtaking setting.

Tour:

This distillery is included as part of our Edinburgh Tour and also our Johnnie Walker Four Corners of Scotland Tour.

Opening Times:

Opening hours vary. Please visit Glenkinchie website for more information

Facilities:

Visitor centre and exhibition spaces
Whisky shop
Tasting rooms
Parking available

Podcast

In the March 2023 edition of the Distillery Tours podcast we spoke to Jo McKerchar, Diageo Historian & Archivist and Kirsten Wilson Senior Site Manager at Glenkinchie Distillery.

Jo tells us all about the history and legacy of Glenkinchie Distillery and its place as the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker while Kirsten explains the processes and traditional methods that go into producing such an outstanding and complex malt whisky.

Frequently Asked Questions

What experiences are available at Glenkinchie Distillery?

Glenkinchie Distillery offers a range of immersive Lowland whisky experiences, including the Glenkinchie Flavour Journey, Flavour & Cask Experience, Hidden Lowland Tour & Tasting, and From Cask to Glass experience. Visitors can explore the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker, discover traditional whisky-making methods, and enjoy guided tastings of Glenkinchie single malt whisky.

How long does a Glenkinchie Distillery tour take?

Most Glenkinchie Distillery experiences last between 1 and 2.5 hours depending on the tour selected. The Flavour Journey lasts around 1 hour 30 minutes, while premium experiences such as the Hidden Lowland Tour can extend to approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is whisky tasting included at Glenkinchie Distillery?

Yes, whisky tasting is included in Glenkinchie Distillery experiences. Guests can enjoy guided tastings of Glenkinchie single malts, with some tours including cask-strength drams, cocktails, or hand-filled whisky drawn directly from the cask.

Do I need to book Glenkinchie Distillery tours in advance?

Advance booking is strongly recommended for Glenkinchie Distillery tours and tastings, especially during weekends and peak tourist seasons, as experiences operate on scheduled times and availability can be limited.

What are the opening hours of Glenkinchie Distillery Visitor Centre?

Glenkinchie Distillery Visitor Centre is generally open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm between October and March, and Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm between April and September. The distillery is typically closed on Sundays and Mondays. Opening times may vary seasonally or due to weather conditions.

Is Glenkinchie Distillery family friendly?

Glenkinchie Distillery is family friendly in visitor areas such as the Lowland Bar, shop and gardens. However, whisky tastings and distillery tours are intended for adult visitors, with under 18s requiring adult supervision in public areas.

Is Glenkinchie Distillery accessible?

Glenkinchie Distillery offers strong accessibility throughout much of the visitor experience, including accessible parking, lifts and step-free access to key public areas. Some historic production areas such as the Tun Room have limited accessibility, though alternative viewing options are provided.

Is parking available at Glenkinchie Distillery?

Yes, free on-site parking is available for visitors at Glenkinchie Distillery, including accessible parking spaces located close to the main entrance.

Does Glenkinchie Distillery have a café or shop?

Yes, Glenkinchie Distillery features the Lowland Bar offering cocktails, drams and locally sourced Scottish food, alongside a visitor shop selling Glenkinchie whisky, gifts and distillery exclusives.

Where is Glenkinchie Distillery located?

Glenkinchie Distillery is located in Pencaitland near Tranent in East Lothian, approximately 15 miles south-east of Edinburgh, and is known as the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker.

Is Glenkinchie Distillery dog friendly?

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome at Glenkinchie, however, due to health & safety regulations animals are not permitted in the production areas of the distillery. If you are visiting us with a guide or assistance dog, we are happy to make reasonable adjustments to our tours to ensure you have an enjoyable, and above all safe, experience.