Relaxing with a highball of Scotch or enjoying a well-made drink is a pleasure (or near ritual) enjoyed by many. With the continuing popularity of classic cocktails and the resurgence of cocktail culture in general — not to mention the copious imbibing on Mad Men —liquor has taken on an increasingly prominent position in the zeitgeist.
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With that comes a desire to really know a thing or two about the spirits that fill one’s glass or shaker. And now, thanks to tours offered by distilleries around the globe, travelers can get a glimpse behind the scenes of some of their favorite brands.
Spending an afternoon at a distillery can offer an unprecedented peek into a spirit’s lineage, place in history and production. It can also lead to interesting discoveries, like how a favorite whiskey, for instance, matures in barrels that once held sherry, port or even rum.
Many tours start at the very beginning. From barley destined for whiskey to sugarcane earmarked for rum, raw ingredients lay a foundation for an experience that excites — and challenges — all the senses. (Try to detect the notes of spice, toffee and berries in Ireland’s Bushmills 16-Year-Old Malt, and you’ll see how.)
These facilities also happen to be located in beautiful places. The rolling hills of Kentucky set the scene for a host of distilleries that make up the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Maker’s Mark — with its signature red wax–dipped bottles — attracts 100,000 visitors a year to its 650-acre location. Head to Scotland, where the Macallan Distillery, located on a 370-acre estate that borders the River Spey, produces a distinguished array of single malts. And if rum is your drink of choice, visit the stunning Aragua Valley in Venezuela, where the fifth generation of the family behind Santa Teresa rum carries on the tradition.
Pack your bags and get a taste of the spirited life at these ten distilleries that are worth the trip.
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The Macallan Distillery — Craigellachie, Scotland
The Macallan Distillery is located on its own 370-acre estate bordering the River Spey. The original farm is where The Macallan gets some of its barley — a special strain called Minstrel; the rest is grown throughout Scotland specifically for the brand. Choose from either a full tour (80 minutes) or an extended tour (135 minutes), which culminates with a taste of four different Macallan single malts.
Visit the Still House 2, where the entire distillation process is on display, and Warehouse 7, where an exhibit called “Mastery of Wood” spotlights the oak casks that the Macallan uses — most of which have previously held sherry and help give the whisky its signature flavor. There is also a private salmon fishing boat and hut available during the fishing season.
Easter Elchies
44-1340/872-280
Maker’s Mark Distillery — Loretto, KY
Maker’s Mark has welcomed guests since 1952. Located on 650 acres in the heart of Kentucky (the distillery sits on 20 acres; the remaining land is a nature preserve), the brand gets 100,000 visitors a year and offers a comprehensive look at the making of its two bourbons: original Maker’s Mark and the longer-aged Maker’s 46 (the brand’s first new offering in more than 50 years).
“They get to see every inch of what we do,” says Rob Samuels, COO of Maker’s Mark and an eighth-generation distiller. Three tasting rooms in a functioning warehouse welcome guests, and tours cap off with a tasting and the opportunity to hand-dip a bottle in the bourbon’s signature red wax.
3350 Burk Spring Rd.
270-865-2099
New York Distilling Company — Brooklyn, NY
Leave it to Brooklyn to house a fully functioning gin distillery attached to a neighborhood bar. Owner Allen Katz, a renowned cocktail and spirits expert, uses a pot-and-column still custom made in Germany to make his signature gins: the 114-proof Perry’s Tot Navy Strength (named for Matthew Calbraith Perry, who was commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the mid-1800s), and Dorothy Parker American, a lighter offering featuring botanicals like juniper, cinnamon and hibiscus.
“There is a current gin craze among professionals and cocktail enthusiasts,” says Katz, who also makes a rye whiskey. “It is enticing to be able to add something new to the category.” Everything in the operation is done by hand, and the Shanty—the distillery’s in-house bar—shows off the end product in a variety of delicious cocktails.
79 Richardson St.
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