Travel:
Train: Edinburgh to Cupar (42min)
Bus: Cupar to Newburgh (20min)
My Itinerary:
09:30 – 10:16: Train – Edinburgh to Cupar (Aberdeen Train)
10:52 – 11:11: Bus (65) – Cupar to Newburgh (Perth Bus)
12:30 – 14:00: Classic Tour
14:40 – 15:02: Bus (65) – Newburgh to Cupar (St Andrews Bus)
15:05 – 15:55: Pint in Cupar
16:02 – 17:11: Train – Cupar to Edinburgh
Directions:
Traveling to the distillery is fairly straightforward, I got the Aberdeen train from Edinburgh to Cupar. Then after arriving in Cupar, you can get the Perth No 65 bus to Newburgh, the bus stop is right outside of the train statiion, just exist the station towards the main road and turn right and you will see the stop. The bus takes you almost straight to the distillery, it takes around 20 minutes to get to Newburgh and are looking to get off at the stop after you pass the garage. Then it is a short walk five minute walk, just cross the road and turn right and walk for a couple of miniutes until you read Abbey road where you will turn left.
The location and distillery:
Lindores Distillery is located in the small village of Lindores in Fife, it is one of the increasing number of distilleries that have appeared in Fife over the past decade and it only opened in 2017. The entrance of the distillery is a short walk down Abbey road, on entering you have a small shop on your right and the check in counter for the tour and meeting point is directly ahead. There is also a small informal bar area where you can get a drink or a bit of food if you wish, it is to the right of the shop. There is a selection of tea/coffee, beer or some Lindores single cask whiskies available.

The Tour
The tour started in the tasing room where we were introduced to the range of spirts available at Lindores. The tasting room is very atmospheric, I arrived on a sunny day and the sun was beaming down through the skylight which acted like a spotlight for the drams positioned on the table. Although I have to say this stage is a bit of a tease at the start as you are shown the drams that are available at Lindores but the sample have to wait until the end of the tour.

There is a large amount of information disseminated about the distillery during the tour as this area has a fairly unique and rich history. The distillery has the unique claim to fame of being the apparent birthplace of whisky in Scotland with the first registered whisky being produced at this site in 1494 by monks who lived in Lindores Abbey and produced this spirt for the king James IV. Although the original whisky produced which was called aqua vitate was very different from the spirt that we call whisky today, it was a flavoured spirt which included spices and fruits and in some ways sounds closer to gin than whisky to me. The distillery still produces this type of whisky on site, I have tasted it before and with some ginger ale it does make a nice cocktail on a summers day! The abbey where the Monks stayed is now in ruins and you can explore these before or after the tour. The location of the first still is also on the grounds and is still currently a site of excavation from St Andrews university,
The tour guide gives you a fantastic insight into the site and history of whisky, but you still get to learn about the whisky making process. This includes heading up stairs to the mashtun, washback’s and three stills. The distillery is independently owned and is on a smaller scale compared to larger sites but they are proud of the spirt being produced, the new make spirt was rated as the best new make in 2024 which is a significant accolade for a newish distillery. Although it would have been nice to taste the new make, although you get to smell the spirt on the standard tour there was not tasting available!

The tour continues after downstairs and outside into the warehouse building which is currently where the independently owned casks are mostly stored and it is a modest site, this is also where the casks are filled and bottled. Its amazing that they mange to do so much within quite a modest space. They are hoping to expand the storage facilities eventually to meet the increasing demands of the distillery and there is certainly enough land surround the distillery to do that.
The Tasting
The final stage of the tour comes full circle and ends in the tasting room where you begin, you are allowed two samples at the end of the tour and get decent pours. The first sample was the first single malt produced at the distillery, it was produced within three separate casks of bourbon, sherry and wine and is a nice fruity dram with hints of apple and vanila. The second dram on offer is a choice between two options, one was a STR wine finish and the other was a bourbon finish. I went for the STR as I do like a sweetness in the dram and again it was perfectly enjoyable, but if I had to choose between both drams I preferred the first dram.

Summary
Tour time: 1hr
Tasting: 2 Samples