Scotch Malt
Whisky Tour

The journey starts before you even board. Meet your whisky ambassador at the Balmoral Hotel for a welcome dram, then make your way to the Royal Scotsman for the afternoon departure from Edinburgh. The train heads north across the Forth Bridge, and afternoon tea is served as the city falls behind.

Later comes the first whisky event of the trip, an exclusive nosing and tasting with Charles MacLean, one of the most respected writers on Scotch whisky. His knowledge of the history and heritage of Scotland's national drink is remarkable, and he has a gift for making it engaging whether you are a seasoned collector or just discovering single malts.

After breakfast you visit Glenmorangie House and Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain. Founded in 1843, Glenmorangie is known for its remarkably tall stills and its pioneering work with cask finishes, and the visit looks at traditional whisky making before a tutored tasting and a light lunch.

Back on board, the afternoon is all about the scenery. The train runs past Loch Luichart, with the Torridon mountains in view, through Achnasheen and over Luib Summit to Strathcarron, then follows Loch Carron through Plockton to Kyle of Lochalsh. A formal dinner rounds off the day, with coffee or liqueurs in the Observation Car, and the train stays overnight at Kyle.

A full Scottish breakfast is served as the train heads east towards Carrbridge, and the morning brings a single cask whisky tasting in the Observation Car. After a light lunch in the dining cars you visit Tomatin Distillery for a guided tour and a tutored tasting of three Highland single malts.

You rejoin the train at Boat of Garten on the heritage Strathspey Railway, where an informal dinner is followed by an evening of music from local musicians in the Observation Car.

After breakfast a road transfer takes you to Rothiemurchus Estate in the Cairngorms, where you can try wild swimming, archery or fly fishing. Lunch is served when you rejoin the train at Kingussie.

The afternoon brings a private tour of Tullibardine Distillery in Perthshire, with a tasting of three Highland single malts. The Royal Scotsman then collects everyone in Perth for a formal dinner on the way to Dundee, and there is Scottish country dancing for anyone who fancies it, a fitting finale to the whisky journey.

A full Scottish breakfast is served as the train leaves Dundee, crosses the Tay Bridge into the former Kingdom of Fife and makes its way south to Edinburgh, where the journey ends. Four nights with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, some of Scotland's finest distilleries and its most spectacular scenery, all from one of the world's great trains.

Itineraries and timings shown may be changed for seasonal or operational reasons.