Distillery Tours Near Stirling: 6 Gin & Whisky Distilleries to Visit
Stirling sits in the middle of Scotland, between Edinburgh and Glasgow and on the doorstep of the Highlands, so it is one of the best bases in the country for a distillery trip. The city has its own working distillery making gin and whisky by hand beneath Stirling Castle, and several more sit within about 40 minutes drive. This guide compares six of them so you can plan your visit.
Book a tour at Stirling Distillery
Distilleries near Stirling at a glance
| Distillery | Makes | From Stirling (approx.) | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling Distillery | Gin and whisky | In the city centre | Spirits made by hand beneath the castle, distil your own gin | A distillery visit inside a historic city |
| Deanston | Whisky | 20 minutes (Doune) | A former cotton mill making unchilled filtered single malt | Whisky fans who like history and film locations |
| Glenturret | Whisky | 40 minutes (Crieff) | Scotland's oldest working distillery, with fine dining | A premium whisky and food day |
| Tullibardine | Whisky | 25 minutes (Blackford) | Highland single malt on the edge of the Highlands | A quieter, classic malt tour |
| Glengoyne | Whisky | 30 minutes (Dumgoyne) | Highland malt, slow distillation, scenic setting | Scenery and whisky on the way to Loch Lomond |
| Auchentoshan | Whisky | 45 minutes (Clydebank) | Triple distilled, lighter Lowland style | A Glasgow side stop |
Drive times are approximate and given for orientation only. Check your route before you travel.
Stirling Distillery
Stirling Distillery is the only working distillery in the city. It sits in the Old Smiddy, an 1888 blacksmith forge, and in 2019 it became the first legal distillery in Stirling in almost 200 years. Every bottle of gin and whisky is made and bottled by hand on site. It is rated 4.9 out of 5 from more than 1,300 reviews on Tripadvisor and ranks among the very top things to do in Stirling.
You can book a Gin Experience, a Whisky Experience, or for a special occasion distil your own bottle at the Gin School. Tours run every day and the distillery is a short walk from Stirling Castle and the old town.
Best for: a distillery visit inside a historic city, with gin and whisky under one roof. See tours and book.
Deanston
Deanston is about 20 minutes from Stirling, near Doune. It was a cotton mill before it became a whisky distillery in 1974, and it still uses the old mill building. Deanston is known for unchilled filtered single malt and for powering itself from the River Teith. Doune Castle, familiar from Outlander and Monty Python, is close by.
Best for: whisky fans who also like history and film locations.
Glenturret
Glenturret sits near Crieff, about 40 minutes from Stirling, and calls itself Scotland's oldest working distillery with roots back to 1775. As well as tours and tastings it has a fine dining restaurant, so it suits a longer, more premium day out.
Best for: a premium whisky and food day.
Tullibardine
Tullibardine is at Blackford, about 25 minutes from Stirling, right on the edge of the Highlands. It makes Highland single malt and offers a range of tours and tastings in a quieter setting than the bigger names.
Best for: a classic malt tour without the crowds.
Glengoyne
Glengoyne is about 30 minutes from Stirling at Dumgoyne, on the road towards Loch Lomond. It has produced Highland single malt since 1833 and is known for slow distillation and a scenic setting, which makes it an easy pairing with a trip to the loch.
Best for: scenery and whisky on the way to Loch Lomond.
Auchentoshan
Auchentoshan is around 45 minutes from Stirling, near Clydebank on the Glasgow side. It is one of the few Scottish distilleries to triple distil its whisky, giving a lighter Lowland style, and it works well as a stop if you are travelling to or from Glasgow.
Best for: a Glasgow side stop and a lighter Lowland malt.
Why base your distillery trip in Stirling
Stirling is central, which is what makes it such a good base. Edinburgh is about 50 minutes away and Glasgow about 40 minutes, so you can day trip from either city. Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument and the old town are all here, so there is plenty to do between distilleries. If you are coming from the capital, see our guide to a day trip from Edinburgh, and for directions and parking see how to find us.
Distillery tours near Stirling: your questions answered
Which distilleries can you visit near Stirling?
Stirling Distillery is in the city itself. Deanston, Glenturret, Tullibardine and Glengoyne are all within about 40 minutes drive, and Auchentoshan is a little further towards Glasgow.
Is there a distillery in Stirling itself?
Yes. Stirling Distillery is the only working distillery in the city, making gin and whisky by hand near the castle.
Can you do a distillery tour as a day trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow?
Yes. Stirling is about 50 minutes from Edinburgh and about 40 minutes from Glasgow, so it works well as a day trip from either.
Do the distilleries near Stirling make gin or whisky?
Most of them make whisky. Stirling Distillery makes both gin and whisky, so it is the one to choose if you want to try both.
Can you distil your own gin near Stirling?
Yes. Stirling Distillery runs a Gin School where you can distil your own bottle to take home.
Do you need to book distillery tours in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially in summer and at weekends, as tours can sell out.
Plan your visit and book a tour at Stirling Distillery
Last updated August 2026.