Whisky in the city
Whisky in the city
Known as 'water of life' in Gaelic, whisky is Scotland's national drink. While in the city, be sure to sample a dram, take a distillery tour and find out more about the globally-renowned drink.
Whisky bars
Credit: Oran Mor by Mark Wild Photography
In Glasgow you can sample whisky from all around Scotland at traditional bars and pubs. One thing that is guaranteed is that friendly staff and locals are always on hand to help you choose your dram!
Must visits include The Pot Still in the city centre. It stocks over 600 whiskies and frequently tops TripAdvisor's list of best bars in the city. Oran Mor in the west end is an arts hub with a dedicated Whisky Bar, which won 'Best Whisky Bar' at the 2022 Maltmen Awards. Visit thepotstill.co.uk and visit oran-mor.co.uk for more info on these well-loved spots.
The Bon Accord, The Ben Nevis, The Dram and The Lismore Bar are also known for their amazing whisky collections. Visit our traditional pubs page for details on each of these and more suggestions.
Whisky distilleries
Find out about how the 'water of life' is created with a whisky distillery tour - a truly unique Scottish experience.
On the banks of the River Clyde in the city centre is the Clydeside Distillery. This is the first dedicated single malt distillery in Glasgow in over 100 years. There is a visitor centre and tour celebrating the city and country’s whisky heritage. The Clydeside Tour ends with a tasting of the Clydeside new make, followed by two Clydeside whiskies that have each matured in first-fill bourbon casks and first-fill sherry butts. Visit The Clydeside Distillery website to find out more.
Just a short distance from the city is Auchentoshan Distillery and Glengoyne Distillery. Both distilleries offer masterclasses and tours, where you can enjoy a day of nosing, swirling and tasting in picturesque settings. Visit auchentoshan.com and visit glengoyne.com to find out more.
Whisky walking tours
Take a journey through some of the best 'off the beaten track' bars available in Glasgow with Once Upon a Whisky. You'll get to visit quirky venues with great food and whisky (of course) and hear fascinating stories. Visit onceuponawhisky.co.uk to book a tour which takes place in the city's bohemian west end.
Whisky gifts to take home
Don't leave empty handed! Take home a Scottish gift to treasure or for a loved one.
Pick up a bottle of the first-ever distilled whisky release from Clydeside Distillery, Stobcross. Order a bottle of the lowland single malt from theclydeside.com.
Contemporary urban distillers, The Glasgow Distillery Co have a great range of gift sets available for their Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Malt Riot Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Check out the range at glasgowdistillery.com.
Article last updated: June 2022
