The Glenturret Distillery with Sip Seekers: A Whisky-loving Girls’ Day Out

There are distilleries you visit once, tick off the list, and move on from; and then there’s The Glenturret. This was my fourth visit, yet somehow it still feels like stepping into a familiar embrace. Scotland’s oldest working distillery has that rare ability to be both deeply traditional and quietly magical, and experiencing it with the Sip Seekers girlies for their first ever Sip Diaries made it feel even more special.

Sip Seekers is a modern Scottish drinks‑tourism platform designed to make discovering whisky, gin and brewery experiences easier, fresher and far more fun. They curate hand‑picked tours, tastings and behind‑the‑scenes adventures across Scotland, with a focus on accessibility, storytelling and community. Their new Sip Diaries series brings creators and drinks lovers together for immersive, one‑of‑a‑kind days out; the kind that blend education with pure enjoyment and celebrate the people, places and flavours behind Scotland’s spirits.

From the moment we arrived, the estate had that soft, settled calm that only comes from centuries of craft. Copper stills glowed like warm lanterns, wooden washbacks bubbled away with quiet purpose, and the air carried that unmistakable scent of sweet barley and fermentation. Our guide Don, walked us through each stage of production with the kind of pride that makes you lean in a little closer, pausing to let us nose the wash, peer into the mash tun, and feel the heat radiating from the still house. For many of the group, it was their first time seeing whisky made from grain to glass, and you could see the fascination spark as they connected process with flavour.

What I loved most was watching those lightbulb moments. The realisation that Glenturret’s spirit is so soft and creamy because of its slow distillation. The understanding of how fermentation shapes fruitiness. The appreciation for the patience and precision behind every drop. There’s no rush here, no gimmicks; just a quiet confidence in doing things the right way. By the end of the tour, we weren’t just warmed by the still house; we were buzzing with anticipation for what came next.

The Whisky Maker’s Experience: Aromas, Tinctures and a Lot of Laughter

Our next stop was the Whisky Maker’s Experience - part sensory workshop, part blending lab, part “I can’t believe this is our Saturday”. We began with five mystery aromas to identify: cinnamon, vanilla, orchard fruits, baking spices… the building blocks of flavour that make Glenturret’s whiskies so distinctive. Then came five drams to taste, each with its own personality. Fruity. Spicy. Rich. Creamy. And yes, smoky.

Then the real fun began. The blending table looked like a cross between a perfumery and a science lab: pipettes, beakers, tinctures, measures, and a group of women who were very ready to play. We each created our own whisky, applying everything we’d just learned about aroma, balance and structure. I stayed true to myself and avoided the peat - smoke and I will never be best friends - but plenty of the others leaned right into it, crafting blends with proper Highland swagger. There was laughter, concentration, a few “oops, too much spice”, and a lot of pride as we bottled our creations.

Lalique Bar & Restaurant: A Jewel Box of Cocktails and Small Plates

After all that sensory focus, we drifted into the Lalique Bar & Restaurant, a space so elegant it feels like stepping inside a piece of glassware. We intended to have a light nibble… which quickly turned into a full exploration of the new bar menu. Veal sweetbreads, padron peppers with whipped roe, steak tartare; each dish beautifully plated, each one disappearing faster than we intended. Cocktails arrived in exquisite Lalique glassware, catching the light like tiny sculptures. It was indulgent, refined, and the perfect way to round off the day.

A Perfect First Chapter for Sip Diaries

Glenturret always delivers, but sharing it with a group of whisky‑loving women, curious, joyful, up for anything, made this visit feel different. More communal. More celebratory. More us. As the first entry in Sip Seekers’ Sip Diaries, it couldn’t have been a better beginning: a day of learning, tasting, blending, eating, laughing and raising a glass to the craft that brings us all together.

Thank you to The Glenturret for an exquisite afternoon.

Glenturret Distillery Tour Prices (2026) (Price varies slightly by season and day.)

The Glenturret Tour, £18–£22 per person : A guided tour through Scotland’s oldest working distillery, including a tasting of two whiskies.

The Glenturret Tasting Experience, £60 per person : A deeper dive into the Glenturret range with a guided tasting of several expressions.

The Whisky Maker’s Experience, £160 per person : A hands‑on blending session including: Aroma identification, Tasting of five Glenturret whiskies, Creating your own personalised blend to bottle and take home, Guidance from Glenturret’s whisky experts

The Glenturret Distillery, Crieff, PH7 4HA https://theglenturret.com/

Sip Seekers - https://www.sipseekers.com/