Glenfarclas Distillery
Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch: Hours, Address, Glenfarclas Distillery Reviews: 5/5
Glenfarclas Distillery
Glenfarclas Distillery
5
10:00 - 16:00
Monday
10:00 - 16:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 16:00
Thursday
10:00 - 16:00
Friday
10:00 - 16:00
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5.0
366 reviews
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Leeds202020
22 contributions
An excellent tour - if you are in the area you must go!!
Sep 2021 • Couples
We did a road trip of Scotland and went to about 10 distilleries, doing their respective tours.
For the actual tour of the site, Glenfarclas was by far the best. The speaker was very knowledgable and they really do take the time to not rush you through the site.
The speaker was very balanced. They gave honest appraisals. This balance made the tour a real pleasure. There was no over sales focused hard push, or telling you over and over how amazing they must be. It was factual, fair and honest.
It’s a beautiful distillery and it was a pleasure to be shown round.
The tasting element was also well presented.
Glenfarclas are currently only doing their basic tour. When they resume their more lengthy tastings I’ll be sure to return!
For completeness I note the tour was free on account of it being during the covid period. There was a gentle collection for a local charity - which I was more than happy to contribute towards. I think this is just outstanding - and shows the value of family businesses.
Only very mild negative is that the pricing of bottles in the distillery shop is a little random. Some bottles have a good price that you’d get elsewhere (say 15 YO). There are a few bottles at quite a premium to what you’d pay on Amazon or other such sites (say 25 YO or 175). There didn’t seem to be too much rhyme or reason as to what were good buys and what were not.
For completeness I’d note the family cask series (IMHO) was very reasonably priced. Plenty of bottles being sold slightly less than you’d pay at auction (once you add in the buying fees etc).
I can see myself returning before too long!
For the actual tour of the site, Glenfarclas was by far the best. The speaker was very knowledgable and they really do take the time to not rush you through the site.
The speaker was very balanced. They gave honest appraisals. This balance made the tour a real pleasure. There was no over sales focused hard push, or telling you over and over how amazing they must be. It was factual, fair and honest.
It’s a beautiful distillery and it was a pleasure to be shown round.
The tasting element was also well presented.
Glenfarclas are currently only doing their basic tour. When they resume their more lengthy tastings I’ll be sure to return!
For completeness I note the tour was free on account of it being during the covid period. There was a gentle collection for a local charity - which I was more than happy to contribute towards. I think this is just outstanding - and shows the value of family businesses.
Only very mild negative is that the pricing of bottles in the distillery shop is a little random. Some bottles have a good price that you’d get elsewhere (say 15 YO). There are a few bottles at quite a premium to what you’d pay on Amazon or other such sites (say 25 YO or 175). There didn’t seem to be too much rhyme or reason as to what were good buys and what were not.
For completeness I’d note the family cask series (IMHO) was very reasonably priced. Plenty of bottles being sold slightly less than you’d pay at auction (once you add in the buying fees etc).
I can see myself returning before too long!
Written 11 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ellie
9 contributions
An excellent tour
Aug 2021 • Couples
We really enjoyed our visit to Glenfarclas. Our tour guide, Mathew, gave us lots of information throughout our tour. He welcomed and answered any questions we had, and took us through the whole process throughout our tour.
We then had the opportunity to try the 12 year and 15 year Whisky’s. They even gave us some to take home for the person who was driving.
I would definitely recommend this if you are visiting the area.
We then had the opportunity to try the 12 year and 15 year Whisky’s. They even gave us some to take home for the person who was driving.
I would definitely recommend this if you are visiting the area.
Written 4 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mark B
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
Brilliant distillery tour
Sep 2021 • Couples
The distillery tour was fantastic. Steve, our guide, took us through the whole process, getting us up close, and his passion and sense of humour were a winning combination. We spent more than an hour touring the family-owned site, with Steve introducing us to everyone from the distillery manager to the gardener. We also tasted a 10yr and 15yr, all for the price of a donation to charity. For lunch afterward, the Copper Dog at nearby Abelour was very good.
Mark
Mark
Written 3 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Anamcara7
Leeds, UK154 contributions
A Must See!
Aug 2021
Was advised to visit this distillery by the host of our guesthouse in Grantown on Spey. Such a lovely family owned distillery. Spotlessly clean and our tour guide was fantastic - very informative and had a passion for the product. The tour lasted around 1 and a half hours and was so interesting. The whiskey tasting was good too, well do my partners said. I was driving haha x
Written 2 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
christina
Worthing, UK21 contributions
Fantastic tour
Aug 2021
This has to be the best Whisky tour I have ever been on. It was completely free and lasted 1.5 hours. It is family run and they just ask for a donation towards charity. The young lady guide just never stopped telling us fantastic information , even whilst often having to walk backwards !! I just don't know how she remembered it all . You could see she really loved her job and was so knowledgeable. Afterwards we sat in this lovely wooden room and had 3 tastings each ( 10 + 12 year and the 105 bottle). For drivers instead they gave a miniature 10 year bottle to take away. Loads was plenty of free onsite parking.
Written 27 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
lleedsunited
9 contributions
My guide Steve was an amazing character who took his time to answer questions and involved everyone on the tour 10/10
Aug 2021 • Solo
This is a must see distillery, a very up close and personal experience with lots of information and interesting stories
Written 26 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
enots18
Merstham, UK112 contributions
Must visit
Aug 2021 • Friends
At the time of visiting, the tour was free ( all they ask is donation for charity which i would recommend you do as it’s well worth it) . Very interesting, informative and well done, they even surprisingly did a tasting at the end!!! Can’t recommend this enough. Staff very friendly. A well run distillery, lovely to know that it is still family owned and true to itself. Delicious whiskey too!
Written 16 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Gilles V
Warfield, UK20 contributions
Brilliant!
Aug 2021
Great balance of information, knowledge and enjoyment. Our tour guide Steve was great. He was knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. This family run business has a lot to offer in terms of legacy and is one of the few remaining distilleries not acquired by one of the two big European players. Its range of whiskies is amongst the finest and I would emphatically recommend this distillery tour which we thoroughly enjoyed as a family.
Written 16 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jillian C
6 contributions
A wee gem!
Aug 2021 • Family
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour and tasting with Lauren, who was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history of the distillery and the process of making whisky. Glenfarclas is one of the few Speyside distilleries that is still family owned, and this shows in the warmth of the welcome.
Written 14 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Alan N
Birmingham, UK53 contributions
great tasting
Jul 2021
Turned up on a drive round speyside , no booking but was still offered a lovely tasting of two incredible whiskies by Donna , she was fantastic and gave us some great information about this great facility , enjoyed it so much we bought a bottle . The tasting room is worth a visit on its own , go ,you will enjoy it
Written 4 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
StuartGirl4life
Stuart, FL156 contributions
I don’t think we have time for a tour. Is there a tasting room available to try the whiskey?
draculaxxx
5 contributions
Yes there is!!Pictures available on youTube etc!
Sehraj
Chandigarh, India1 contribution
Hello
Are the whiskies served in five decades tour available in tasting room menu??
Christian B
Toronto, Canada332 contributions
I don't believe that it's a standard tour. This being said everything is possible if you contact the distillery in advance and make arrangements with them.
Steen L
Copenhagen, Denmark8 contributions
I have booked the 3.30 standard tour, and I'm trying to plan my transport so I'm curious as how to how long the tour is.
grahamresmith
Valley, UK34 contributions
It took us about two hours as we wanted to see some rooms twice and I asked the guides loads of questions. All the guides were fantastic and very knowledgeable. Then we spent loads more time in th tearoom and shop. Time outside was rather short as it was raining very heavily.
HeartSleeve310
Bethany Beach, DE45 contributions
DO you need to book this tour in advance? Many of the comments report that when they visited, place was closed. I will be visiting in June 2015, staying in Forres, would like to tour Glenfarclas if it is possible.
dergener
Istanbul, Turkey162 contributions
Yes, of course - a reservation is required. As they are still independent and try to give their outmost, they kimdly ask for a reservation in advance. I am pretty sure that if you go there without reservation by chance, you still might able to have a couple of drinks at the visitors' center
