World Whisky Day is May 20th, and European Waterways wants travelers to know they can celebrate the invention of whisky all season long in one of the countries that made it famous – Scotland. A leading operator of luxury hotel barges, European Waterways offers Whisky Trail Cruises that include excursions to four of Scotland’s prestigious whisky producers.

European Waterways’ Whisky Trail Cruises on the Spirit of Scotland and the Scottish Highlander feature a special itinerary tailored to whisky enthusiasts. They include private guided tours that reveal the unique production processes behind the various single malts, followed by tasting classes.  Among the destinations is the Dalwhinnie distillery, known for its exclusive bottling and six single malts. Nestling at the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, at an elevation of 1,164 feet above sea level, it is also the highest distillery in Scotland.

Guests also visit the Tomatin distillery 25 minutes south of Inverness, as well as the Glen Ord distillery on the Black Isle. Founded by Thomas Mackenzie in 1838, Glen Ord is one of the few in Scotland with onsite maltings. The Speyside Benromach distillery, a family-owned business for more than 100 years, is also on the itinerary.
 
Whisky Trail Cruises can be chartered at any time of the season and are not subject to a supplement. In addition to the distillery tours, they feature excursions to historic castles and, of course, spectacular Highland vistas and memorable crossings of famous lochs that include the home of “Nessie”. Prices for the Spirit of Scotland, based on 12 passengers, start at $62,000; prices for the Scottish Highlanders, based on eight passengers, start at $39,500.

About European Waterways
Hotel barging is a boutique, unique experience that offers an immersive and all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” focusing upon the culture, history, fine wine, and gourmet cuisine of the cruise regions. Founded more than 40 years ago by Derek Banks and John Wood-Dow, European Waterways was among the first to operate on the Canal du Midi. Their efforts helped to ignite a new niche travel industry that proved instrumental in the revitalization of Europe’s intricate network of scenic canals and inland waterways as tourism destinations.