Distilleries in Dumfries and Galloway
You don’t need to rush up to the Highlands to experience a good distillery. There are four noteworthy ones to be found in Dumfries and Galloway that are all well worth a visit while on holiday at one of our Corsewall Estate Holiday Cottages, our self-catering cottages near the coast in Dumfries and Galloway.
Bladnoch Distillery
The Bladnoch Distillery, near Wigtown, has been producing Lowland single Scotch whisky on the site since 1817. Laying claim to being Scotland’s most southerly distillery, it is an easy day trip while staying at one of our Corsewall Estate Holiday Cottages, our self-catering cottages near the coast in Dumfries and Galloway.
There are several tours from Tuesdays to Saturdays from which to choose, which guide you through the key stages of production and can offer an insight into the fascinating history of the distillery. If you have time, enjoy lunch at the Bladnoch’s Café Melba.
As you drive past Wigtown to get to Bladnoch, do pop into the town itself and visit some of the second-hand bookshops. Currently home to 16 wonderful bookshops, our favourites include The Bookshop, Scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop and Reading Lasses, which champions female writers.
Annandale Distillery
The Annandale Distillery is renowned for its award-winning single cask single malt whiskies and has been producing whisky in Dumfriesshire for over two centuries. Tours cover the history of the distillery, the tales of the whisky pioneers and provide an insight into what makes Annandale whisky so special. Afterwards, do visit The Maltings café, which offers an excellent selection for lunch, breakfast or afternoon tea.
The distillery is located at Annan, so if you live in the east of the country or are coming up from England, then it might be worth tying in a visit en route to our Corsewall Estate Holiday Cottages, our self-catering cottages near the coast in Dumfries and Galloway. Alternatively, for a proper treat, make a day trip of it and following a tour of Annandale, enjoy lunch at the distillery’s award-winning Globe Inn in Dumfries.
Galloway Distillery
The latest distillery to enter the fray is the Galloway Distillery at Newton Stewart. It is the passion of owner and local lad Sam Heughan of Outlander fame. It champions both the Sassenach brand of whisky, gin and vodka, in addition to the multi award-winning Hills and Harbour gin. Sassenach derives from the word ‘Saxon’ and was originally used by Gaelic speakers referring to non-Gaelic speaking lowlanders. In this instance, Sassenach is a reference to what Sam Heughan’s character, Jamie, in Outlander affectionately calls his wife, Claire.
Hills & Harbour – Award Winning Gin from the Galloway Distillery at Newton Stewart
Distillery tours tend to run from Wednesdays to Saturdays and offer a behind the scenes peak at the innovative process. Enjoy a glass of your favourite at the end of the tour.
The Galloway Distillery is around a 45-minute drive from Corsewall Estate Holiday Cottages, our self-catering cottages near the coast in Dumfries and Galloway.
Dark Art Distillery
In the heart of Kirkcudbright, in a charming, converted school room, you will find the Dark Art Distillery. It is named after the Dark Skies Park in the nearby Galloway Forest Park and Kirkcudbright itself, which as Scotland’s Artists town, has been inspiring artists since the 19th century when it first attracted members of the Glasgow Boys art movement.
The Dark Art Distillery in Kirkcudbright
The dark skies and the mountains of the Galloway Forest Park are the inspiration for its gins and vodkas including the Merrick Vodka, named after the Merrick, the highest mountain in southern Scotland. Take a tour, which tend to run from Thursdays to Saturdays and learn about the craft behind the distillery’s spirits.
The Merrick Vodka made by the Dark Art Distillery in Kirkcudbright
All tours at all the above distilleries offer guests a dram afterwards and a takeaway for drivers too.