This is Speyside whisky without the clipboard, the coach party, or the death-by-PowerPoint distillery script.
Your host, Mitch Bechard, is a Keeper of the Quaich, whisky author, podcast host and independent bottler with over 20 years in the industry. He brings Speyside to life with humour, insider knowledge and first-hand stories.
Your private tour begins with pickup within 20 miles of Aberlour, travelling in CopperCairn’s comfortable Ford Tourneo, ideal for small private groups of up to 8 guests. From the moment you step in, this is your whisky experience: relaxed, personal, scenic and built around great drams, proper stories and the places that make Speyside special.
First whisky: River Spey scenic tasting
Begin beside the River Spey with your first dram, poured in the landscape that helped shape Speyside’s whisky storey. This tasting sets the tone for the tour, linking the whisky in your glass to the river, the region and the people who made Speyside famous.
Second whisky: Cardhu and Speyside stories
Your second whisky is enjoyed near classic Speyside whisky country connected to Cardhu. Here, the dram is paired with stories of Helen Cumming, illicit stills, smugglers, farm distilling and the rise of Speyside whisky from local craft to global icon.
Third whisky: Dufftown and Glenfiddich area
Your third whisky is tasted around Dufftown and the Glenfiddich area, surrounded by some of the biggest names in Scotch whisky. This stop explores family ownership, ambition, whisky storytelling and how Speyside helped take single malt around the world.
Balvenie storey stop: no tasting here
Stop near The Balvenie, one of Speyside’s most traditional and characterful distilleries. This is a storey and photo stop rather than a tasting stop. Mitch spent 10 years working with the company, so you’ll hear first-hand tales about dramming, distillery life, the people who worked there and maybe even a ghost storey linked to the old maltings.
Fourth whisky: Craigellachie Bridge final toast
Your final whisky is poured at the iconic Craigellachie Bridge, with the River Spey below and whisky country all around. This is the closing toast of the tour, tying together the stories, places and drams from the afternoon in a properly memorable Speyside setting.
This is not an internal distillery tour or production visit. It is a hosted whisky adventure through the heart of Speyside, created for people who want the stories, scenery and flavour of the region in one unforgettable afternoon.
