Scotland Tour

First Touch of Edinburgh We will meet at Istanbul Airport international departure terminal three hours before the flight to complete our ticket and baggage procedures. After our ticket and passport procedures, we depart for Edinburgh at 07:15 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1343. We land at Edinburgh Airport at 09:40 local time, and after baggage and customs procedures, we transfer to our vehicle to take the first step of our discovery of Scotland. Our destination is Rosslyn Chapel, which has gained worldwide fame with its mysterious atmosphere. This structure, distinguished by its intricate stonework, symbol-rich architecture and esoteric narratives, is considered one of Scotland's most impressive historical sites. After breathing in the chapel's mystical air, we make our way to Edinburgh city centre. En route, we stop briefly in front of the magnificent Scott Monument, built in memory of Sir Walter Scott. With its Gothic details, this monument has become one of the city's symbols and strongly reflects Edinburgh's cultural identity. After free time during the lunch hours, at 17:20 we join the Johnnie Walker Princes Street experience.

The Stone Memory of Edinburgh We start our day at 10:36 at The Scotch Whisky Experience. From the production stages to the world of aromas, this experience allows us to comprehensively discover Scotland's whisky culture. One of the most striking sections is the Diageo Claive Vidiz collection, comprising approximately 4,000 bottles. In this section, considered one of the world's largest Scotch whisky collections, we get to see extremely rare and highly collectible bottles up close. As we examine the character differences that aging brings to whisky, we also come to better understand why bottles aged for decades can reach values of millions of pounds. This area, a visual archive of Scotch whisky history, offers enthusiasts an unparalleled experience. We then walk through Edinburgh's historic streets and arrive at Edinburgh Castle at 13:00. Built on volcanic rock, this impressive castle served as home to Scottish monarchs and was an important structure that functioned as the country's political center for centuries. As we stroll between the rampart walls, we sense the traces of wars, coronation ceremonies and the struggle for independence.

A Journey to Speyside Early in the morning we depart from Edinburgh and make our way toward the Speyside region, known as Scotland's whisky culture experience capital. Misty valleys, stone villages and lush green hills accompany us along the way. As we approach the region, we feel we are entering one of the world's most concentrated distillery geographies. After the midday hours, at 13:00 we enter through the doors of the Strathisla distillery. Strathisla, in production since 1786, is considered one of Speyside's most established distilleries. Its pagoda-roofed buildings, stone walls and copper stills make it a living representative of classic Scotch aesthetics. Its productions, known for their fruity and honeyed character, are particularly seen as the heart of Chivas Regal blends and are considered one of the key malts that define the brand's signature character. At our second stop of the day, at 17:00, we experience the Benriach Distillery. Benriach, noted for its innovative approach, is known under the leadership of master blender Dr. Rachel Barrie for creating layered aromas by boldly using different cask types.

Stories Whispered from Casks & Gala Night We begin the day at 11:00 with our visit to Speyside Cooperage. At this center, one of Scotland's active barrel workshops, we watch craftsmen repair and reshape oak casks. Here we gain a much clearer understanding that wood is not merely a storage medium but one of the fundamental elements that determine the aromatic structure of the distillation culture experience. The fact that a single cask can be used across different distilleries over dozens of years also highlights the sustainability and craftsmanship side of Scotch culture. The Guinness World Record broken by master cooper David McKenzie - assembling a 190-liter oak cask in 3 minutes and 3 seconds - is recounted as a striking detail that reveals the speed and skill level of the handcraft practiced here. After lunch, at 14:45, we visit The Glenlivet Distillery. Thanks to the license obtained by George Smith in 1824, Glenlivet went down in history as one of Scotland's first officially licensed distilleries.

Farewell to Scotland After our check-out, as we make our way to the enchanting capital, we leave behind not just a trip but stories, friendships and lingering flavors shaped by the character of the distilleries that will never be erased from memory. We stop for a photo break at Queen's View Visitor Centre with its stunning views of the Highlands, and then we offer free shopping time at Livingston Designer Outlet for country-specific souvenirs for your loved ones and clothing. We depart from Edinburgh at 16:55 on flight TK1346 and arrive at Istanbul Airport at 23:15. Hoping to meet again on the next distillery culture experience route. Sláinte!