Scotch Whisky Experience

Over het museum

The Scotch Whisky Experience occupies the former Castlehill School, a Scots Baronial building of red sandstone designed by Robert Wilson and opened in 1889. The school closed in 1951, and the building had several later uses before it was converted into a visitor attraction in the 1980s. Nineteen Scotch whisky companies jointly invested about £2 million in the project, and it first opened to the public in 1988 as the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, to show visitors who could not travel to the Highlands how whisky is made.

The attraction is an interactive exhibition and not a working distillery. Guided tours explain how Scotch whisky is produced, matured and blended, take visitors through the regions of Scotland and end with a tasting. Since 2009 the building has also housed the Diageo Claive Vidiz whisky collection, one of the largest collections of Scotch whisky in the world, which visitors see as part of the tour.

The lower floors are occupied by the Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar, and the attraction also has a whisky and gift shop with more than 550 bottlings. Around 300,000 people visit each year, most of them from abroad.

Hoogtepunten

• Guided tour on how Scotch whisky is made, matured and blended
• One of the largest collections of Scotch whisky in the world
• Tasting of a single malt or blended Scotch whisky
• Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar
• Audio guide in 21 languages including sign languages

Vaste collectie

• Whisky collection – One of the world’s largest collections of Scotch whisky, shown as part of the guided tour.
• Origins, The Art of Whisky Making, Maturation – An immersive journey through how Scotch whisky is made and matured, part of the Silver Tour.

Opgericht

1988

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 238.542

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Adult price of the Silver Tour (one whisky, 50 minutes). Tickets are flexible and can be rescheduled up to 48 hours before the visit. Visitors should bring physical photo ID; buying alcohol and tasting follows the Challenge 25 policy.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The entrances have automatic doors and a lift serves each level of the building; accessible toilets are provided. The tour offers hearing loop technology, audio guides, and British Sign Language, American Sign Language and International Sign through tablets. Assistance dogs are welcome and water bowls are available at the box office. A detailed access guide with a video is available on the website.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour

The Silver Tour is aimed at first-timers and families: children get a glass of Irn-Bru and a trail to follow with Peat the Cat. The Gold Tour and the Taste of Scotland tours are for over-18s only.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Castle Terrace has coach drop-off bays (30 minutes maximum). There are no bike racks, but railings on Johnstone Terrace behind the building can be used; secure cycle storage is at Waverley station.

Service & horeca

• Café: niet aanwezig
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe: niet aanwezig

Amber Restaurant & Whisky Bar (lunch and dinner, table bookings possible, no tour needed) and a whisky and gift shop with more than 550 bottlings. Luggage cannot be stored during tours, but the building is fully accessible so cases can be taken along.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten

The website lists private events, private whisky tastings, blend-your-own sessions and private collection dining and tastings.

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