A man in a suit stands at a marble bar, examining a glass of whiskey. Small bottles and glasses filled with whiskey are arranged on the counter, with shelves of backlit bottles lining the dim room.

Lifestyle

First look: The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour

Two countries, three distilleries, four whiskies. This is The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour – a brand-new luxury experience by Chivas Brothers and Midleton Very Rare.

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Words by Dulcie Barnes

17th June 2025

4-minute read

As prestige whisk(e)y draws a broader audience, drinkers crave more than what’s in the glass. They want to step inside the craft – visiting distilleries, meeting the makers, and forming emotional ties that turn each pour into a return to the source.

That’s why, this October, Chivas Brothers and Midleton Very Rare, in partnership with Quintessentially Experiences, are bringing whisk(e)y fans a brand-new luxury experience that takes them on an adventure from the northeast of Scotland to the southeast of Ireland to discover some of the world’s finest and rarest whiskies.

It’s four nights, three historic distilleries, two hotels, and one remarkably rare and aged whiskey (which – spoiler alert – is from a now-silent distillery and will never be produced again). Add a dram of fine dining and a cask of countryside pursuits along the way, and you’ve got the perfect blend of whisk(e)y-fuelled fun.

Where you'll stay

Linn House, Scotland
Two nights

Linn House feels just like home. If your home is a Victorian manor known as the ‘home of whisky’, that is. It’s Chivas Brothers’ first guest house, where the 12 uniquely colourful and cosy bedrooms are named after their distilleries. This is where fires roar and kilts come out to play (in fact, they’re encouraged at the Royal Salute whisky-paired dinner on your second evening here).

Hotel highlight: the whisky library – a treasure trove of bottles from the Chivas Brothers portfolio.

linnhouse.uk

A large stone mansion with a central tower and arched doorway, surrounded by trees and landscaped greenery under a clear sky.

A dimly lit bar features shelves lined with various bottles of liquor along two walls. A marble countertop is in the foreground, and a glass-fronted cabinet with more bottles is visible to the right.

Station Rd, Keith AB55 5BU

Castlemartyr Resort, Ireland
Two nights

The clue’s in the name at Castlemartyr – a countryside castle that’s perfectly prim and proper. Think four-poster beds, ancient stone archways, and a spa where time stands still. It’s grand, but not in a stuffy way – more like a place where Irish charm pours as freely as the whiskey. There’s no more suitable a spot than this for the finale of The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour.

Hotel highlight: The Spa at Castlemartyr Resort – one of the most extraordinary luxury spas in Ireland.

castlemartyrresort.ie

A large cream-colored mansion with gray stone accents and columns, set behind a green lawn and a wooden fence, with a large tree in the foreground and wildflowers in the grass.

Aerial view of a golf course surrounded by green fields, trees, and a few buildings, with hills and farmland stretching into the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

Castlemartyr, Cork, P25 X300

It would be more than easy to while away your time at these high-end hotels. But whisky enthusiasts will agree that the real fun starts when you step outside. That’s where the distilleries come in – and The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour has three of Scotland’s and Ireland’s most historic lined up for you.

From immersing yourself in hundreds of years of heritage to witnessing state-of-the-art production techniques first-hand, there’s no better way to discover and enjoy whisky.

Where you’ll go

Strathisla Distillery

There’s only one way to kick things off properly: at The Highlands’ oldest working distillery. Here, you’ll nose fresh spirits in the Liquid Library, explore elusive casks in The Vault (an exclusive collection from across the Chivas Brothers' portfolio), and enjoy a private tasting tailored to your palate. Master Blender Sandy Hyslop leads the charge, revealing the secrets behind Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet.

‘We are providing a one-of-a-kind opportunity for those visiting Speyside, bringing some of the world’s rarest and most remarkable whiskies into the spotlight for whisky connoisseurs and collectors to enjoy, savour and purchase,’ says Hyslop.

A dimly lit wine cellar with arched metal gates, wooden barrels lining the walls, and a round table with wine bottles in the center of the room.

A man in a suit stands at a curved marble bar, examining a glass of whiskey. The bar is covered with several glasses and bottles. Warmly lit shelves filled with bottles line the background.

Seafield Ave, Keith AB55 5BS

The Glenlivet Distillery

Next up: the rugged glens of Speyside, where the story of The Glenlivet began. You’ll trace the footsteps of whisky disruptor George Smith, tour the original distillery, and sample smooth, signature drams in a private tasting. Lunch at Ballindalloch Castle with local laird Guy McPherson-Grant, followed by traditional countryside pursuits, is the cherry on top. This is Highland hospitality with a side of history and heritage. We’ll drink to that.

A cosy, warmly lit lounge with exposed beams, a stone wall, shelves of liquor bottles, vintage armchairs, red sofas, rugs, and a bar with a whiskey bottle and glasses in the foreground.

A luxurious, warmly-lit display of whiskey bottles lines curved shelves in a glass-walled showcase labeled GEORGE & J.G. SMITH LTD, with a single bottle highlighted on a pedestal in the center.

Glenlivet, Ballindalloch AB37 9DB

Midleton Distillery

The grand finale of The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour brings us to Midleton, the beating heart of prestige Irish whiskey. You’ll mark 200 years of distilling with a deep-dive into the distillery’s archives and a cask-side sip of the final release in the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, a remarkable 50-year-old single pot still whiskey so rare that only 225 decanters will ever exist. There’s even a coopering demo from the legendary Ger Buckley and four-course feast hosted by Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman.

‘This is a piece of history. This is the final release in our Silent Distillery Collection. This is something that will never be repeated,’ says O’Gorman of Silent Distillery Chapter 6.

Aerial view of a historic stone distillery complex surrounded by trees, with industrial buildings and countryside in the background under a cloudy sky. Cars are parked near the main buildings.

A modern tasting room with a large white marble table set with wine glasses and snacks, surrounded by shelves displaying multiple bottles of wine or liquor.

Distillery Walk, Midleton, Co. Cork, P25 Y394

The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour is a toast to tradition, craft, and character. A journey that’s as smooth as the whisky itself – and one to savour. You’ll come for the rare releases but leave with something even rarer: a true sense of connection – to the land, the legends, and the people behind every pour. Slàinte.

The Grand Whisk(e)y Tour runs 6th–10th October 2025.

Want to book your spot now? That’s the spirit. Contact [email protected] for more information.

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