The Becoming Tour
An evening with both founders, tasting Stirling spirit straight from the cask. Ten seats. £105.
Discover the Becoming Tour →The Whisky Experience, daily tastings
Book your spot
A guided tasting of four whiskies and the story behind each one, at the Old Smiddy beneath Stirling Castle. Pick a date and time below, instant confirmation.
Stirling Distillery Experiences
The Whisky Experience
Four drams across Scotland's whisky regions, plus a taste of our own award-winning new make. Leave knowing what you actually like, and why. An hour and a half with the people who distil it, beneath Stirling Castle.
£32 a person · 1.5 hours · Sessions through the day · Ages 18+
★★★★★
#2 of 112 things to do in Stirling on Tripadvisor · 4.9 from 1,800+ reviews across the web
Open Mon to Sat 11am to 5pm · Sunday 12pm to 5pm
What you actually get
Everything in your ticket
An hour and a half in a working distillery, not a walk round a visitor centre.
✓
Four drams across Scotland's whisky regionsChosen to show you how differently Scotland tastes, from the Lowlands to Speyside. Side by side is the only way you ever really hear the difference.
✓
A dram of our own new make spiritGold at the World Whiskies Awards. It is not sold by the measure anywhere in the world, so this is very likely the only place you will ever taste it.
✓
An hour and a half with the people who distil itAsk anything. They made it. There is no script and nobody is reading from a card.
✓
The single malt, quietly maturing beside youStirling's first single malt in over 170 years is ageing in the building you will be standing in. Almost nobody has tasted where it came from.
✓
The story of Stirlingshire's lost whiskyWhisky stopped being made here in 1852. What happened in between, and why it started again, is a better story than most distilleries have.
✓
10% off everything in the shop that dayTake home the dram you liked best, for less than anyone else pays.
£32 a person
FareHarbor adds a £2.12 booking fee, so £34.12 all in. Nothing else to pay on the day.
Have a look first
Where you'll be sitting
The Old Smiddy, below the castle. Small, warm, and full of the things we actually make the whisky with.
“This distillery tour was amazing! Simone made the entire experience. Thank you all for everything and the tasty whisky we brought back home!”Brian W · Tripadvisor
Who you're spending it with
Why here, and not one of the big names
Scotland is not short of distillery tours. Most are run by staff working from a script written by a marketing department.
Stirling Distillery is family owned and family run. It is the first legal distillery in Stirling in over 170 years, built into the Old Smiddy below the castle. The person pouring your dram is usually the person who distilled it, which is why nobody has to pretend to be interested.
Our new make took gold at the World Whiskies Awards. We make just 20,000 litres a year, which makes us about the smallest whisky distillery in Scotland, and the single malt it becomes is still maturing here.
That is the whole difference. Everything else on this page is detail.
What you walk out with
More than a tasting
You don't need to know anything
Most people arrive knowing nothing about whisky. That is rather the point, and nobody is going to test you.
You'll taste history being made
Very few people have tried Stirling's new make. Fewer still before the single malt is released.
You'll nose properly
Simple habits you'll use for the rest of your life, so every dram after this one means a little more.
Pick your ticket
Every price is what you pay at checkout, booking fee already included.
Adult Most peopleThe full tasting. £32 plus the £2.12 booking fee. Ages 18+.
£34.12
Flexi AdultSame tasting, but rebook at any time with no extra charge.
£38.33
SpecialAdds a 5cl miniature and a Glencairn glass to take home.
£44.10
DriverThe full experience and the story, without the drams.
£18.37
ChildUnder 18s welcome alongside an adult. Includes a mocktail.
£6.30
Plans might move? Choose Flexi and rebook whenever you like, no extra charge.
After you book
Instant confirmation. Your ticket arrives by email the moment you book.
On the day, arrive 5 minutes early at the Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling FK8 1EN.
Parking is limited on street, so use the city centre car parks a few minutes away.
Coming as a group?
The daily tasting seats 25. For a private tasting we can seat up to 48 in the Old Smiddy, which makes it work for work away days, clubs, birthdays, and hen and stag groups. Tell us your date and your numbers and we'll build the day around you.
Enquire for a private tasting Or call us on 01786 596496.Where we are
A few minutes down from the castle
The Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling, FK8 1EN
We sit at the top of the old town, a short walk down from Stirling Castle, so most people pair the two in one afternoon.
On-street parking is limited, but the city centre car parks are a few minutes away. Questions before you come? Call us on 01786 596496.
Get directionsExplore other experiences
Not sure the Whisky Experience is the one? Here's what else is on.
Walk-In Mini Tastings
Already in town? Drop in for a guided flight, no booking needed. From £15.
See mini tastings →
Gin Experience
Six gins and the copper still a few feet from your glass. £32 a person.
Explore gin →Good to know before you book
How long does it last, and when does it run?
Around 1.5 hours, seated with your guide. Sessions run through the day. Tap Book the Whisky Experience and the live calendar shows exactly what is available on your date.
What will I pay?
The tour is £32 a person. FareHarbor adds a £2.12 booking fee, so £34.12 at checkout. There is nothing else to pay on the day, and you get 10 percent off in the shop afterwards.
I don't know anything about whisky, will I be out of my depth?
No. Most people who come have never done a tasting before, and the whole point is to leave knowing more than you arrived with. Nobody is going to test you.
How much whisky do I actually get?
Four 25ml drams across Scotland's whisky regions, plus a measure of our own new make spirit. Drivers get the full experience without the drams for £18.37.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
The standard adult ticket is non-refundable and non-transferable. The Flexi ticket at £38.33 lets you rebook at any time with no additional charge, so choose that if your plans might move.
Do I need to book ahead?
There are 25 seats a day and weekends go first, so booking guarantees your place. If you are already in town, we also run walk-in mini tastings when there is space.
Can I bring under-18s?
Yes. The Child ticket is £6.30 and includes a mocktail. The drams themselves are strictly 18+.
Can you take a big group?
Yes. The daily tasting seats 25, and for a private tasting we can seat up to 48 in the Old Smiddy. Get in touch with your date and numbers.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are always welcome at the Old Smiddy.
Where do we park?
On-street parking is limited, but the city-centre car parks are a short walk away, and most guests pair us with a wander up to the castle.
Four regions. One sitting.
An hour and a half in a working distillery with the people who make it, four drams across Scotland, and a gold-winning spirit you cannot buy anywhere.
Book the Whisky Experience £32 a person · A few minutes' walk from Stirling Castle · Drivers £18.37 · Children £6.30Loved on every platform
Rated excellent everywhere
Don't just take our word for it. Here's how visitors and customers rate us across the web.
★★★★★
4.9 · 315 reviews
Tripadvisor
★★★★★
4.9 · 1,391 reviews
Judge.me
★★★★★
4.7 · 317 reviews
That is 1,800+ reviews across the web, and we are ranked number 2 of 112 things to do in Stirling on Tripadvisor.
★★★★★
"A tiny intimate space, a nice change of pace from other distillery and brewery tours we've done. Rachel was a wealth of knowledge and made it more than just sipping whiskies."
Tripadvisor reviewer
★★★★★
"Rachel was a wonderful host, warm, knowledgeable, and passionate about the whiskies she introduced us to. She struck just the right balance between sharing interesting information and keeping things fun."
Betsy Travels
★★★★★
"The distillery is so unique and I enjoyed the smaller feel of it, it definitely felt like a family run business. The whole family enjoyed the experience, especially tasting the Gin!"
Catie T
Take a bottle home
Take a dram home with you
Our Sons of Scotland single casks are bottled here and shipped across the UK.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know anything about whisky?
Not at all. Our guides start from the basics and pitch the tasting to the group, so complete beginners and enthusiasts both enjoy it.
What will I taste on the Whisky Experience?
A guided flight through our Sons of Scotland whiskies, from new make spirit to single cask, with the story behind each dram.
How much is it and how long does it last?
From 34 pounds per adult, and it runs for around an hour with one of our team.
Can drivers and non drinkers join in?
Yes. We can provide samples to take away, so drivers and non drinkers can take part fully.
Is the Whisky Experience a good gift?
Yes. Whisky experience gift vouchers are a popular present and can be booked for a date to suit.
Planning a visit?
Find us below Stirling Castle
The Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling FK8 1EN.
Open Monday to Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sunday 12 to 5pm.
Exploring the area? See our guide to distillery tours near Stirling.