How to Get Single-Malt Scotch in Scotland

Since there's not much more to do in Scotland than golf, get rained on and listen to bagpipes, you might as well delve into the fine art of single-malt Scotch tasting while you're there. What wine tasting is to Napa Valley, whiskey sipping is to Scotland--so much so that an entire tourism industry is built around Scottish whiskey tours.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Plan a tour of Scotland's distilleries. If you just want to buy single-malt scotch, save the airfare. Because of Britain's ultra-high liquor taxes (about 70 percent of the retail price), quality Scotch is far cheaper in the States or a duty-free shop. (See How to Buy Duty-free.)
2. Purchase these two books: Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch: The Connoisseur's Guide to the Single Malt Whiskies of Scotland (Running Press, 1999) and The Whisky Trails: A Traveller's Guide to Scotch Whisky, by Gordon Brown (Trafalgar Square, 2000). Also order the Collins Whisky Map of Scotland (William Collins & Sons Ltd., 1999).
3. Using the books and map, plot a course among the dozens of distilleries open to the public throughout Scotland, particularly Islay and the regions of Speyside, Scotland's famed malt whiskey country.
4. Look into one of the many organized tours of Scotland's distilleries that include lodging, meals and transportation. Taking such a tour is often the only way to get a real behind-the-scenes look into traditional distillery techniques and sample rare Scotches.
5. Join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. If you're a die-hard Scotch lover, fork over the membership fee and join the worldwide fraternity of single-malt Scotch whiskey connoisseurs. Privileges include access to The Vaults, a 19th-century members-only whiskey lounge in Leith, the historical port of Edinburgh.

What to Look For:

• Scotland distillery guidebooks
• Organized distillery tours
• Private whiskey clubs

Tips & Warnings

• In Scotland you have to pay a 17.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on your liquor purchases, but non-British citizens can claim much of this back when you leave the country. When you arrive, check with the customs authority for details, and save all your receipts when you shop. See How to Ship Foreign Purchases to the United States.
• Plan your trip to coincide with one of Scotland's many whiskey festivals, such as the Spirit of Speyside Walking Festival held each May.