A trip to Scotland isn’t complete without a whisky distillery tour, and Annandale makes for an excellent way to kill a few hours. Located just 25 minutes away from central Dumfries, the distillery’s storied past, in-depth tours, great food and impressive whisky guarantees a good time.
Established in 1836, Annandale Distillery operated for almost 100 years, producing close to 28,000 gallons of whisky annually in its heyday. After a brief period producing porridge oats, the site fell into disrepair and remained unloved for many years.
In 2007, the site caught the attention of Professor David Thomson and Teresa Church (the husband-and-wife/business-partner team behind the fabulous 1610 Restaurant at The Globe Inn), who began to plan the site’s restoration. Fast forward to 2014, and Annandale was once again a working distillery, specialising in unique single cask whisky.
The hard work has paid off, as the site itself is a stunning blend of traditional and contemporary. Our tour guide was fantastic, taking us on an hour-long journey through history, peppering his spiel with humour and warmth. There are also no fewer than five wee drams of Annandale whisky to try throughout the tour, so don’t arrive on an empty stomach (although guests can opt to take samples home if they don’t wish to drink).
The tour includes a sneak peek at some of the private casks stored at Annandale, including a distinctive purple cask presented to Princess Anne as she officially opened the distillery in 2015. We finished our tour in the gift shop, where we tasted our last few drams of whisky and perused the bottles on sale.
Feeling rather peckish, we then made a beeline for Annandale’s cracking on-site cafe, The Maltings Coffee Shop. Serving a hearty selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner favourites (and even a Scottish afternoon tea), it’s a charming spot complete with cosy fire and welcoming staff.
We enjoyed the juicy Annandale Homemade Beefburger, which comes topped with Cheddar and red onion, and served with salad and baked potato crispers. As you’d expect, whisky is on the drinks menu, but they also offer up some excellent Scottish craft beers too.
Final verdict
Annandale Distillery is essential for anyone visiting Dumfries and Galloway, and the perfect complement to 1610 at The Globe Inn, with both offering a compelling insight into Scotland’s rich and storied culinary heritage.
Annandale Distillery, Northfield, Annan, DG12 5LL.