Glasgow is one of the best bases in Scotland for a distillery day out. Within an easy trip of the city you can stand on the banks of the Clyde in a riverside malt distillery, drive out to a countryside Highland still, or catch a direct train to a gin and whisky distillery beneath Stirling Castle. This guide to the whisky distilleries near Glasgow covers how far each one is, how to get there by train or car, and what each tour actually includes, so you can plan a distillery day trip from Glasgow with no guesswork.
We run one of these places ourselves, so we have written it as a genuine visitor guide rather than a name list. Prices and opening hours change, so always check each distillery's own website before you travel.
Whisky distilleries near Glasgow at a glance
Here is a quick comparison of the main options, from the closest distillery to Glasgow to the ones worth a short journey. Use it to shortlist, then read the detail below.
| Distillery | Travel from Glasgow | Getting there | Spirit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Clydeside | In the city, about 25 minutes on foot from centre | Walk, subway or taxi | Whisky | A distillery visit with no car |
| The Glasgow Distillery Co | In the city, about 15 minutes by car | Car, bus or train to Cardonald | Whisky and gin | Seeing a modern city distillery |
| Auchentoshan | About 25 minutes by car | Car, or train to the western suburbs plus a short hop | Whisky | Triple distilled Lowland malt |
| Glengoyne | About 40 minutes by car | Car, or bus toward Killearn | Whisky | A pretty Highland distillery |
| Rosebank | About 30 minutes by train | Train to Falkirk, then a short walk or taxi | Whisky | A reborn Lowland classic |
| Deanston | About 1 hour by car | Car, or train to Stirling then a taxi | Whisky | A distillery in a former mill |
| Stirling Distillery | About 45 minutes by direct train | Direct train to Stirling, then a short walk uphill | Gin and whisky | Gin and award winning whisky in one visit |
As a rough guide, distillery tours near Glasgow tend to start somewhere around 18 to 25 pounds for a standard guided tour and tasting, with longer or premium experiences costing more. Check each distillery for current prices.
Distilleries in Glasgow city centre
If you would rather not leave the city, two distilleries sit right inside Glasgow, both reachable without a car.
The Clydeside Distillery
The Clydeside is the easiest whisky distillery in Glasgow to reach on foot. It sits on the River Clyde in the old Pump House by the Queen's Dock, a short walk or taxi from the city centre and close to the riverside museums. It is a working single malt distillery with a bright glass still house looking out over the water, and the guided tour walks you through the story of Glasgow whisky before a tasting at the end. It is a strong choice for a first visit, especially if you are travelling car free, and it pairs well with a morning along the Clyde.
The Glasgow Distillery Company
Tucked away in the Hillington area in the south west of the city, the Glasgow Distillery Company makes the 1770 Glasgow single malt along with gin. It is a modern working distillery rather than a polished visitor centre, so it gives you a real behind the scenes feel. Tour availability can be more limited than the bigger sites, so book ahead and check what is running. It is reachable by car in around 15 minutes from the centre, or by bus and a short walk.
Distilleries within an hour of Glasgow
Head a little further out and the choice opens up, from a triple distilled Lowland malt on the edge of the city to a Highland distillery in the hills.
Auchentoshan
Auchentoshan sits in Clydebank, right on the western edge of Glasgow, which makes it one of the closest countryside distilleries to the city. It is best known for triple distillation, a Lowland tradition that gives a light, smooth and approachable malt. That gentle style makes it a good introduction for anyone new to whisky. You can reach it in around 25 minutes by car, or take a train out to the western suburbs and finish the journey with a short taxi. The standard tour covers the triple distillation process and ends with a tasting.
Glengoyne
Glengoyne is the prettiest of the nearby distilleries, sitting at Dumgoyne in the hills about 40 minutes north of the city. It straddles the Highland line and is known for slow distillation and unpeated, sherry cask matured whisky. The setting, with a waterfall and green glen, makes the trip feel like a proper day out. There is no train to the door, but buses run from Glasgow toward Killearn and Balfron along the A81. Tours range from a standard visit and tasting up to longer, more in depth experiences.
Rosebank
Rosebank is a famous Lowland name brought back to life on the canal at Falkirk, between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Long mourned by whisky lovers after it closed, it has been rebuilt with a new visitor experience on its original site. It is one of the easier trips by public transport, with a direct train from Glasgow Queen Street to Falkirk in around 30 minutes, then a short walk or taxi. Opening details and tour formats are still settling in after the reopening, so check ahead before you plan your visit around it.
Deanston
Deanston is a characterful distillery in a converted cotton mill on the River Teith near Doune, about an hour from Glasgow by car. The huge old mill building and the water wheel that once powered it give it a look unlike anywhere else on this list, and the whisky is an unchill filtered Highland malt with a waxy, honeyed style. Without a car, the simplest route is a train to Stirling and a short taxi. If you are a fan of Highland whisky and industrial heritage, it is well worth the drive.
Stirling Distillery: gin and award winning whisky, 45 minutes away
If you want gin and whisky in a single visit, Stirling Distillery is the option none of the other guides mention, and it is easier to reach than most people expect. A direct train from Glasgow Queen Street reaches Stirling in about 45 minutes, and from the station it is a short walk uphill to the Old Smiddy at 9 Lower Castlehill, right beneath Stirling Castle. That makes it a genuine car free day trip, with a castle at the top of the same street.
We are Scotland's smallest whisky distillery, and everything is made and bottled by hand on site. You can join a distillery tour, book guided gin and whisky tasting experiences, drop in for a walk in mini tasting with no booking, or spend a couple of hours making your own gin at our Gin School. On the whisky side, our new make spirit was judged the best in the world at the World Whiskies Awards, and we pour it beside our maturing casks so you can taste how whisky begins. Our gin has taken home Scottish Gin Awards too, so there is real proof in the glass.
Visitors rate the experience highly. We hold a 4.9 rating on Tripadvisor and rank number 2 of 112 things to do in Stirling, and we are open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm and Sunday from 12 to 5pm. Pair the visit with Stirling Castle a few steps away and you have a full day out from Glasgow. If Edinburgh is on your list too, you can make a day of it from Edinburgh just as easily, since Stirling sits between the two cities.
How to plan your distillery day trip from Glasgow
A little planning turns a distillery visit into a proper day out. Here is how we would approach it.
Travelling by train or bus
You do not need a car to visit whisky distilleries near Glasgow. The Clydeside is walkable in the city, Stirling and Rosebank are direct trains, and Auchentoshan and Glengoyne are reachable by a mix of train, bus and a short taxi. If you plan to taste, leaving the car at home is the sensible choice anyway, so build your day around the train where you can.
How much time to allow
Allow around two to three hours for a single distillery, including the tour, a tasting and time in the shop. Add the travel each way and one distillery makes a relaxed half day, or a full day once you factor in lunch. Trying to squeeze two distilleries into a day is possible for the closest options, but one done well is usually the better trip.
Pairing a distillery with a castle or lunch
The best days pair a distillery with something else nearby. Stirling Distillery and Stirling Castle sit on the same historic street, so you can climb the hill for the castle and drop down to the distillery in one visit. In the city, the Clydeside pairs neatly with the riverside museums, while a countryside trip to Glengoyne pairs well with a Highland lunch on the way back.
Can't make the trip? Gift a distillery experience
If you cannot travel this week but still want a taste of it all, an experience makes a lovely gift. Our gift an experience voucher and our bottles and gift sets can be sent across the UK, with free delivery on orders over 60 pounds. You can also browse our award winning gin and whisky to send a bottle straight to the door. It is the easy way to give the distillery day out to someone else, or to save it for yourself for later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest whisky distillery to Glasgow?
The Clydeside Distillery is the closest, sitting right in the city on the River Clyde, about a 25 minute walk from the centre. The Glasgow Distillery Company is also within the city, while Auchentoshan lies just to the west in Clydebank.
Can you visit distilleries near Glasgow without a car?
Yes. The Clydeside is walkable in the city, and both Stirling Distillery and Rosebank are direct trains from Glasgow. Auchentoshan and Glengoyne take a little more planning by bus and taxi, but a car free distillery day is easily done.
How far is Stirling Distillery from Glasgow?
Stirling is about 45 minutes from Glasgow on a direct train from Queen Street, then a short walk uphill to the Old Smiddy beneath Stirling Castle. By car it is a similar time up the motorway, making it a comfortable day trip.
Which distillery near Glasgow is best for a first visit?
For a first whisky visit, the Clydeside is easy and welcoming, and Auchentoshan's light triple distilled malt is very approachable. If you would like gin and whisky in one trip, Stirling Distillery gives you both plus a castle next door.
Do you need to book distillery tours in advance?
Booking ahead is strongly advised, as tours run at set times and can sell out, especially at weekends. Some distilleries also offer walk in tastings. At Stirling you can drop in for a mini tasting, though tours and the Gin School are best booked in advance.
Are there distilleries near Glasgow that make gin as well as whisky?
Yes. Stirling Distillery makes both gin and whisky by hand, so you can taste across the range in one visit. The Glasgow Distillery Company also makes gin alongside its single malt.
Whichever you choose, a distillery makes a memorable day out from Glasgow. To taste gin and award winning whisky in one trip, with a castle on the doorstep, book a distillery tour with us at the Old Smiddy in Stirling.
More distillery day trips to Stirling
Coming from somewhere else? We have a guide for every direction, all leading to the same warm welcome at the Old Smiddy.
