Tour whisky distilleries in Scotland, India and Japan this vacation season

According to SkyScanner Travel Trends 2024, almost 63% of respondents out of 1,000 budgeted extra on journey in 2024 in comparison with 2023, and for the primary time in historical past, Indian single malt gross sales exceeded Scotch (53%) in 2024, in response to the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) — an indication that Indians take their malts critically.

Encouraged by statistics comparable to this and a rising curiosity, whisky appreciation golf equipment throughout the nation at the moment are ideating and curating itineraries, all for the love of a very good dram. 

The Single Malt Amateur Club (SMAC) in Bengaluru, based in 2011 with over 4,500 members, ran a members-only journey, Whisky Horoheki (₹3.3 – ₹3.7 lakh per individual, unique of airfare) to Japan in February. With many Japanese distilleries closed to particular person guests, the membership managed to drag off an enviable itinerary. Yamazaki Distillery (established in 1923, Japan’s first malt whisky distillery) — strategically situated between Osaka and Kyoto, on the confluence of the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers — set the scene for a personal Suntory-guided tour, with an unique tasting session that included the Yamazaki 25-Year-Old.

This was adopted by a go to to the Chichibu Distillery on the foothills of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park in Saitama. This distillery is inaccessible to most people, and its doorways have been opened due to the community of whisky connoisseurs recognized to SMAC.

Accompanying seven contributors from Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Mumbai, co-founder Hemanth Rao elaborates, “Visiting established distilleries requires in depth advance planning, whereas newer distilleries supply whisky fans an in-depth exploration of the manufacturing processes. Food pairing, particularly malt whisky with sushi, considerably enhanced our expertise.” 

The last distillery expertise at Nikka Yoichi in Hokkaido was distinctive for its continued use of direct coal-fired pot stills — a uncommon technique in whisky-making that contributes to a heavy, oily, and sophisticated spirit, harking back to conventional Scottish drams. These golf equipment additionally introduce fans to international locations that they usually wouldn’t affiliate with whisky. Singapore Sling II, organised by SMAC final 12 months, took 11 members to the island nation, to expertise essentially the most thrilling whisky bars and savour Singapore’s Scotch and bar tradition (₹1,49,000 excluding airfare). The group tried over 10 ultra-rare whiskies with various age statements of over 5 a long time, throughout bars dotting the busy skyline.

Speaking of the attract of whisky trails, Zoran Peric, MD, Realmix Limited, that does strategic advertising with the spirits business, explains, “Whisky excursions normally supply expressions not stocked in shops. Japan is known for its highball bars, popularised within the 1950-60s and also you positively need to add these to your checklist.”  

Japanese bars are notoriously compact, accommodate beneath a dozen patrons at a time, and require advance bookings, however Whisky Horoheki pulled off a cocktail bar coup with visits to Osaka’s Bar Freedom, Tokyo’s Whisky Library, Bar Kage in Ginza, and Bar Aloha, run by Hawaiian native David Tsujimoto, which supplied intimate experiences and classic worldwide and Japanese malts.

Japanese mixologist Shingo Gokan, is bullish about Japanese whisky tourism for Indians. “With rising disposable incomes, elevated publicity to world tradition, and a burgeoning aspiration for premium experiences, India presents a promising panorama for whisky manufacturers.” 

Scottish whisky writers are intrigued by Indians’ love for Scotch historical past. Charlie MacLean, Scotland’s legendary whisky author, sees an upward tick on this spirit-led discovery. “Scotland is the heartland of whisky. Its recognition has inspired whisky manufacturing in 87 international locations around the globe, together with India, in fact. Only by visiting Scotland’s distilleries and tasting whiskies can this thriller be explored!” says Charlie.

Mumbai-based The Dram Club, began in 2019, with over 1200 members is at present planning a visit to Scotland in August 2025, particularly the Islay area, with masterclasses and unique tastings at 15 distilleries together with Lagavulin, Talisker, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Springbank amongst others. 

Having examined the waters with a bunch of seven members in October 2023, the membership’s co-founder Swati Sharma says it is necessary to know your viewers. “We floated polls inside our neighborhood about period, distillery wishlists and funds. We deliberate distillery visits and tastings, however with breaks in between so travellers might discover the world on their very own.”

From Edinburgh, house to Johnnie Walker Princess Street, to the Glenkinchie Distillery and an Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour, the group soaked within the spirit panorama of the historic city. It traversed picturesque Pitlochry adopted by the Aberfeldy distillery, and excursions on the Singleton, Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Glenlivet and Glenfarclas distilleries.

Himanshu Chitre, a Dram Club member recollects his expertise in Scotland, at his first ever whisky path. “Tasting at Aberfeldy, bottling our personal whisky straight from the cask at Glendronach, judging the Speyside competition drams — spending nearly half-a-day with Sir Dennis Malcolm, the oldest-serving grasp distiller within the Scotch whisky business at Glen Grant, was simply essentially the most memorable occasion of the entire tour.”

While India is but to discover its personal whisky trails with only a few customer centres, John Distilleries, Goa, Bengaluru-based Amrut Distilleries and the experiential Good Craft Co. by Diageo (together with a fermentary and an ode to craft Indian spirits), supply a glimpse into the Indian malt scene. “For our abroad guests, it’s typically a pleasing shock to discover a place like this, resulting in a larger appreciation of how far the Indian single malt expertise has come,” explains Paul P John, chairman and managing director, Paul John Whisky, that operates a customer centre in Goa, in a Portuguese fashion mansion.

Dennis Steckel, who began an Amrut appreciation membership in Älmhult, Sweden, visited Bengaluru for the launch of India’s oldest and costliest malt (Amrut Expedition, a 15-year-aged malt). He says, that the variety of vacationers concerned about Indian single malts is witnessing an uptick. “I’ve near 400 coveted Amrut bottles that I’ve swapped with different malt fans. There is certainly a rising curiosity in Indian single malts.”

According to Heemanshu Ashar, Global Brand Ambassador, Paul John Distilleries. “Whisky trails make whisky appreciation and palate enlargement distinctive and memorable for contributors. The appreciation gained from distillery visits additionally creates a benchmark of what good whiskies ought to be and that builds the appreciation of Indian single malts produced from high quality producers.”

Published – May 16, 2025 02:36 pm IST