Speyside, Scotland · 2024

In February 2024 our club ran its first proper expedition — the Single Malt Safari. Eight of us, two cars, passports (thanks, Brexit), warm clothes for the cold and rain, and an emergency Glencairn glass each. From Hasselt through the Eurotunnel to Edinburgh, then deep into Speyside for a week of distilleries, tastings, a cooperage, a hill walk and a proper Scottish night.

The drive north

We gathered in Hasselt on a Tuesday evening, split across two cars for the Eurotunnel crossing, and drove on to a short night at the Ramada near Stansted. The brief was simple: passports, warm clothes, sturdy boots, snacks, and two in-car activities each to survive the hours — most of which went on Tom's relentless guess-the-distillery quizzes.

Edinburgh: the Experience and the Society

Wednesday took us up to Edinburgh: the Scotch Whisky Experience in the late afternoon, then a private dinner and whisky pairing with the SMWS on Queen Street, before a free evening in the city.

North into Speyside

Thursday was the scenic haul north — past Blair Athol and Edradour, Balmoral Castle, Royal Brackla and The Whisky Castle, with a stop at the Glenlivet archives before we settled into our base at Parkmore Cottages.

The heart of Speyside

Friday was the big one: an early Speyside Cooperage toast tour, a walk, then Craigellachie and Macallan, an Aberlour single-cask tasting and GlenAllachie through the afternoon — capped with a well-earned nightcap at the legendary Mash Tun in Aberlour.

Benrinnes, Glenfiddich and a Scottish night

Saturday opened with a free morning — though the keen ones were up at eight to climb Benrinnes for the view from the top. The afternoon brought a Glenfiddich Solera tour, and we closed with a proper Scottish night: our own bottles, good food and long table talk. Then the long road home — Dover by midnight, Hasselt by the small hours.