Glenturret Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Hosh, Crieff,
Perthshire & Kinross 4HA Scotland
Tel: +44 (0) 1764 656565 Fax: +44 (0) 1764 654366
Viewer's Comments about Glenturret / Famous Grouse

As Scotland’s oldest distillery, Glenturret has had a long and colourful history. From illicit stills and smugglers, through the worldwide boom in Scottish whisky to near dereliction post-prohibition, the site here at Glenturret has survived through the centuries. Glenturret was established as a single malt distillery in 1775, using the pure waters of The Turret Burn and traditional distillation methods and equipment. After the economic depression of the late 1830s, the sole survivor of the many bothy distilleries that had flanked the Turret Burn was Glenturret. Eventually trade improved, and we know the owner in 1870, a Mr Thomas Stewart, made full use of a period of growth and expansion in the Scotch whisky industry and enlarged the plant, machinery and warehouses.

All went well until 1920, when prohibition in the United States was responsible for a drastic drop in sales, and The Distillery fell silent in 1921. The long closure and neglect of The Distillery caused considerable dilapidation at the site.

However in 1957, James Fairlie purchased the Glenturret Distillery and began its revival. By June 1960, whisky was again in production and used to supply blenders. As time went by, the company decided to lay down spirit for eventual sale as a single malt of varying maturity. Inevitably finances were strained by the need to invest in such slow moving stock. In 1981, one of Glenturret's customers, Cointreau et Cie, came to the rescue with an attractive offer for The Distillery and the new owners brought considerable expansion and investment. In 1990, ownership passed to Highland Distillers.

In common with the original whisky makers, we still draw our water from the cool, clear Turret Burn, and use the same methods and equipment. As Scotland’s oldest single malt distillery, it is the birthplace of an award winning single malt renowned for its quality, glorious bouquet and natural golden hue. The Glenturret is made using the Pot Still process, whereby the fine single malt is produced by traditional methods slowly, patiently and in small precious quantities at this historic site.

You can still come and learn about how single malt is made in the traditional way, but now you can also learn more about where some of that Glenturret single malt ends up – in the blending of Scotland’s Best Loved Whisky, the Famous Grouse, and its new range of blended malts (available in various ages from 10 to 30 years old).

Courtesy of The Famous Grouse

Glenturret Whisky Distillery

The Experience Tour
Visit Scotland's oldest working distillery, Glenturret, established in 1775. The distillery is the spiritual home of the Famous Grouse and it is here that we produce The Glenturret malt, one of the key malts used in The Famous Grouse blend. See how The Glenturret ighland single malt is produced, still using the traditional methods and equipment.

The Famous Grouse is Scotland’s favourite whisky. Visit us and take part in our BAFTA-award winning interactive show and enjoy a guided tour of the distillery with one of our friendly team.

Your Experience tour will include 2 whisky tastes, one of The Glenturret Highland Single Malt made in small quantities here at the distillery and one other taste from The Famous Grouse range of The Black Grouse, The Snow Grouse or Naked Grouse.

£9.95 per person, £8.50 concession, Free for children under 12 (Approx 60 minutes)

The Seasonal Special
Your tour of the distillery will start in our milling room and our award-winning guides will take you on the production journey through mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation. You will see how The Glenturret Highland Single Malt is produced, still using the traditional methods and equipment.

Explore the world of The Famous Grouse, Scotland’s favourite blended whisky. Take part in our BAFTA-award winning interactive show where you will soar across Scotland through the eyes of the Grouse.

Your tour includes a selection of 5 whisky tastes from a range of superior blends and malts which are varied seasonally. A complimentary nosing glass is yours to take away.

£18.95 per person, £17.50 concession, Free for children under 12 (Approx 1 hour 15 minutes.)

Taste of Scotland Tour
During this tour you will see how The Glenturret Highland Single Malt is produced still using the traditional methods and equipment, as well as sampling 2 tastes of malt & blended whisky on your tour.

Your tour guide will then conduct a private tasting session for your party where you will taste a further 3 malts. Your guide will match our finest Highland Single Malts with foods designed to enhance the unique flavours of each whisky. You will explore the sensory experience & learn about the complex characteristics of our very best malts: The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes. It’s a great experience for those with a passion for the water of life.

Your tour includes 5 malt whisky tastes and a beautiful complimentary ‘wobble’ glass as a token to remind you of your experience.

£25.00 per person, Free for children under 12 (Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes)

Challenge Your Senses
An in-depth tour for the whisky enthusiast. Your tour will include a guided walk-though of Scotland’s oldest working distillery (est.1775), seeing how The Glenturret, our highland single malt, is produced using traditional methods. You will also explore the world of The Famous Grouse blended whisky, the number one blended whisky in Scotland.

Your guide will then accompany your group on a private blending session where you will create your very own unique dram to take home with you. You will also take part in our Malt Challenge, where the complexities of whisky-making are brought to life by your guide and your sensory skills are tested to see if you have what it takes to be a Master Blender.

Your tour will include a selection of whisky tastes from a range of superior blends and malts as well as your very own 100ml blended bottle to enjoy at home.

£60.00 per person (Approx. 3 hours. Pre-booking is essential. Maximum of 10 adults per booking)

Behind The Scenes with a Stillman
The world’s only distillery experience where you can go behind the scenes of the production process! A truly exclusive opportunity and the perfect gift for whisky enthusiasts everywhere.

Visit us at Scotland's oldest working distillery, Glenturret, and enjoy a unique journey spending the morning with one of our highly skilled and knowledgeable Stillmen. You will witness all aspects of the production process, from milling the grains to laying down the casks to sleep. In the afternoon test your nosing skills in our Malt Challenge and find out if you have what it takes to be a Master Blender by creating your own unique dram to take home with you.

As a reminder of your day you will receive a certificate, your very own 100ml bottle of your blended dram, a personalised bottle of our finest highland single malt, The Glenturret 10 Year Old, and a branded polo shirt.

£225.00 per person (Full Day. Pre-booking is essential. Maximum of 3 people per day.)

Opening Hours

Summer Hours: Opening hours 9am – 6pm. First Tour 9.30am and Last tour 4.30pm daily.

Winter Hours: Winter opening hours apply between November to February, when we will be open 10am – 5pm. First tour at 10.30am and last tour 3.30pm.

We are closed 25th & 26th December and 1st January.

How To Find The Glenturret Distillery

Directions By Car (Type PH74HA into your GPS)

From Glasgow: Take the M80 which joins the M9 just before Stirling. Then take the A9, turning off at Greenloaning onto the A822 via Braco and Muthill. From there follow the brown signs to The Famous Grouse Experience.

From Edinburgh: Take the M9 junction 11 near Stirling. Then take the A9, turning off at Greenloaning on to the A822 via Braco and Muthill. From there follow the brown signs to The Famous Grouse Experience. Alternatively take the M90 to Perth then the A85 to Crieff.

Direction By Bus or Rail: Trains run regularly to our nearest railway stations; Gleneagles, Dunblane and Perth. Taxi and bus transfers are available from the railway stations to Crieff. For train information contact National rail Enquiries 0845 748 4950. For bus information contact City Link 0871 266 33 33 or Stagecoach 01738 629339.

Directions By Foot: Walking from Crieff town centre Follow sign posts for The Famous Grouse Experience, approximately one mile out of the village towards Comrie, over a small bridge take a right at the signs for The Famous Grouse Experience.

How We Make Glenturret Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The following section will give you an insight into how we make the Glenturret Single Malt on site. It’s still made the traditional way, using copper pots stills and is aged here in our warehouses. The resulting whisky is either bottled in its pure form as The Glenturret Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky or it is used in the blending of The Famous Grouse range of whiskies, where it brings a distinct fruity note to the blend.

Milling: Malted barley is fed into the mill where it is ground into grist, which resembles coarse flour.

Mashing: The grist is mixed with hot water in the mash tun, a large circular metal vessel.

Fermenting: After about 48 hours the fermentation has turned the liquid into a weak form of alcohol, similar to beer.

Distilling: We use a traditional POT-STILL made of hand beaten copper. Its shape is unique to Glenturret. Inside the still there are five oil fired steam heaters. The alcohol vapours rise up the neck of the still and travel outside to a condenser where the vapours are cooled and become liquid.

The liquid then goes to the smaller Spirit Still for a second distillation. This time the spirit produced is separated into three parts, as not all of the spirit is of the required strength and quality for making whisky, only the middle part or HEART OF THE RUN will become whisky parts, as not all of the spirit is of the required strength and quality for making whisky, only the middle part or HEART OF THE RUN will become whisky.

Filling: Before being put into barrels the spirit's strength is reduced by the addition of water, the same water that is used for mashing.

Maturing: The cask is stowed in the warehouse and left undisturbed for a minimum period of six years.

Courtesy of The Famous Grouse