Whisky

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, Macallan is one of whisky's best known names and its visitor centre doesn't disappoint either.

As part of a £1m investment earlier in 2010, a new exhibition centre was built for the Masters of Spirit Experience. A light-filled atrium sets the scene by displaying all the ingredients that play a part in the creation of the Macallan.

Within half an hour of both Glasgow City Centre and Loch Lomond, Auchentoshan is a popular spot to visit. Overlooking the River Clyde, Auchentoshan – meaning corner of the field – was set up in 1823 and is know for the delicacy and lightness of its malt. One secret to this elegance? Triple rather than double distillation.

A range of tours cater for both the newcomer and the connoisseur, and for the dedicated, there's a chance to fill your own bottle of Auchentoshan straight from the cask.

Founded over 130 years ago by James Fleming, Aberlour goes its own way with its malts, neither too heavy, nor too light, but rather rich and complex.

Aberlour's popular visitor centre offers the rather unusual chance to hand fill and personally register your own bottle of Aberlour cask strength malt whisky. The shop has a good range of malts, books glasses, gifts and other local produce.

Known as one of Scotland's most attractive distilleries, Strathisla sits on the banks of the River Isla in Keith. The oldest licensed malt distillery in Scotland, Strathisla is the spiritual home of iconic blend, Chivas Regal. Its own malts are worthy of note too, evolving as they age from fragrance to richness.

Tours run from April until October, while the shop is open all year.

Already an expert moonshiner, George Smith responded to the pivotal 1823 Excise Act not only by going legit the next year, but also by going light with his style. He began a new tradition.

As well as a tour and tasting of the home of this iconic malt, check out the Exhibition Area in the newly refurbished Visitor Centre. Its choice of innovative routes allows you to follow your interests, be that history, geography or The Glenlivet legacy.

Glenlivet's Jennifer Brophy writes:

The most northerly distillery in the world, Highland Park still uses traditional methods to create its highly regarded whiskies. Established in 1798, it retains its own maltings, hand turning the malt and drying it over peat, and swears by the use of sherry casks for the all-important maturation phase.

Hard to believe that 200 years ago, the Isle of Arran was home to over 50 whisky distileries, although most of them were illegal and well hidden. Arran's malt had a good reputation, ranked alongside those from the "Glen of Livet".

These days there's just the one distillery, but it keeps the torch burning brightly.

Within a few years of opening in mid-2008, Penderyn's purpose-built Visitor Centre has become one of the most popular attractions in Wales. Nestled in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, in the UNESCO-recognised Florest Fawr National Park, Penderyn's founders spent £850K on a visitor centre to share what goes in to Wales' only whisky, and in the last year has seen 25,000 visitors through its doors.