Speyside Cooperage
The Speyside Cooperage is at the epicentre of the whisky industry’s cask manufacturing and management. The centre received casks from all around the world, which in turn make their way to distilleries across Scotland. Each year they make and repair over 100,000 casks – barrels, hogsheads, butts and puncheons.
Oak is the only wood that can be used to produce casks for wines and spirits as it prevents seepage and allows the contents to breathe without spoiling the flavour.
The art of the cooper takes years to master. The coopers of Speyside build and repair casks from all over the world using only natural materials. Not a drop of glue or a single nail is used. Casks will often be ‘fired’ when they arrive to char the interior, and many will be ex-bourbon, port, sherry, or peated casks which give the whisky the bulk of its unique flavour.
The Five Star award winning Acorn to Cask exhibition will take you on a journey through the lifecycle of the cask, where you will see the coopers at work, still using the traditional methods and tools. The site also hosts a large gift shop, full of great whisky gifts. Learn what the casks are used for today and see the truly unique and ancient craft of barrel making.
Types of Tour
Toasting Tour
Nestled in the heart of the Malt Whisky Capital of the World, Speyside
Cooperage has been home to the ancient art of coopering since 1947.
A warm local welcome awaits you here in the kingdom of casks. This is a
unique opportunity to learn first-hand the integral importance the cask
has in the maturation process and follow the journey of the tiny acorn to
its coming of age as a majestic oak cask.
Established in 1947 by the Taylor family, Speyside Cooperage had humble
beginnings operating out of a disused Airport Hangar in the small village
of Craigellachie in the heart of Speyside, Scotland.
Now, owned by TFF Group with multiple sites in the UK and the US, our
Coopers are busy shaping, shaving and charring casks still using many of
the original methods and tools from centuries past.
As featured in National Geographics ‘Europe from Above’ and home to
the Guiness World Record Title Holder for the ‘Fastest Time to Build a
190L Barrel’, your experience will begin in our mini cinema room where
you will be immersed in a multi-screen production narrated by Ron
Donachie (Game of Thrones).
Your guide will then accompany you on to the viewing gallery where you
will have full view of the Cooperage at work. Your guide will explain what
the coopers are working on at that particular moment and talk you
through the various site highlights; coopers working at their benches, the
apprentice station, the testing station, the end shop and explain the uses
of the different tools – many which have been unchanged for centuries.
If you can tear yourself away from this mesmerising almost hypnotic
atmosphere, you will join your guide in our Toasting Room for a dram of
our own label 10-year-old Speyside Malt Whisky to raise a glass and toast
this exquisite experience.
Cost per person £10.00
Facts at a Glance
- Tours run on the hour between 9.00am and 3.00pm and last an hour
- We are open Monday to Friday; the site is closed at weekends
- Booking is essential to secure a visit
- Children under 8 are not permitted
- There is a maximum of 16 guests per tour
- There are two flat rates; Adults £10.00, Age 8 – 17 £6.00
- Reservations can be made online at our website which shows real time availability
- There is no coffee shop on site but we can make recommendations
- Visitors are welcome to use the outdoor picnic tables
- Dogs are allowed onsite and in the shop but not on the actual tour
- We have a dedicated accessibility area
- One driver/guide/translator attracts a free of charge place per group
- We close for two weeks over Christmas and New Year
Opening Hours
Social Media
Accessibility
Accessible parking
Ramp access
Accessible support throughout visitor centre
Seperate accessible viewing room
Location
You can discover the ancient art of cooperage on Dufftown Road, Craigellachie, Banffshire, Scotland AB38 9RS.
Postcode for directions and Sat Nav devices is AB38 9RS.
We are serviced by the no 36 bus route which runs between Elgin and Dufftown and Elgin Train Station is 12 miles away on the A941.