New research has revealed the "best" whisky distilleries in Scotland using customer reviews and social media data.
Scotland's whisky industry is world-famous, and attracts tourists from around the globe. With so many distilleries located in the country, it can be hard to see all of them in a single trip.
To help visitors decide where to head, whisky experts at The Cask Connoisseur have put together an index ranking of the top distilleries in Scotland. The research has revealed the 10 "best" distilleries in the country.
Each distillery was given a score out of 140 for each of the following criteria: Google rating, number of Google reviews, TripAdvisor rating, number of TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags, and TikTok views. An overall rating out of 840 was then assigned.
Coming in at number one is Laphroaig Distillery in Port Ellen on the Island of Islay. Located at Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of the island, the distillery has earned acclaim far and wide—including from King Charles III.
The Cask Connoisseur adds: "Renowned for its rich and unmistakable taste in its whisky, Laphroaig Distillery still uses its traditional methods to produce one of the most distinctive single malts.
"With the highest score of 736.5 out of a possible 840, this distillery tops the list. They were also one of the most popular on Instagram and TikTok, so it’s a distillery that many like to visit and photograph."
Following behind in second place is Glenkinchie Distillery in Tranent, approximately 15 miles out of Edinburgh. Known as one of the Four Corners of Scotland distilleries of Johnnie Walker, it distils the Edinburgh Malt that is enjoyed around the world.
Commenting on the distillery, The Cask Connoisseur said: "Coming in second place, with a score of 710 out of a possible 840, is the Glenkinchie Distillery.
"With a 4.9 Google rating, this is clearly a favourite among many whisky drinkers, potentially due to its closeness to Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. They also have five stars on TripAdvisor resulting in a score of 126.5 as well as 132 for the total number of reviews."
In third place is Oban Distillery in the west coast port of Oban, with an overall score of 702.5 out of 840. Known as being among both the oldest and smallest distilleries in Scotland, according to The Cask Connoisseur it has the most reviews on TripAdvisor and scored a full 140.
Rounding out the top five are Lagavulin Distillery on the Isle of Islay and Balvenie Distillery in Moray, with overall scored of 690 and 689.5 respectively. Other distilleries to appear in the top 10 include Kilchoman Distillery and Bowmore Distillery—both on Islay—and Lindores Abbey Distillery in Fife.
The top 10 whisky distilleries in Scotland
- Laphroaig Distillery — 736.5/840
- Glenkinchie Distillery — 710/840
- Oban Distillery — 702.5/840
- Lagavulin Distillery — 690/840
- Balvenie Distillery — 689.5/840
- Kilchoman Distillery — 687.5/840
- Bowmore Distillery — 679.5/840
- Lindores Abbey Distillery — 679.5/840
- Glengoyne Distillery — 678.5/840
- Glenturret Distillery — 666.5/840
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
