Six new single malts including distillery exclusives and limited editions, hand picked from Scotland's finest distilleries. A whisky-lover's route through Scotland — be the very first to taste what we've found.
Pre order tasting gift setThis August, we travelled through Scotland in search of six new single malt whiskies for an exclusive Azu Spirits tasting collection. From Highland distilleries and independent whisky shops to Hebridean islands, historic inns and some exceptional whisky bars, we followed the west coast in search of great drams — and the people and places behind them.
From the hills of Highland Perthshire to Mull and Islay, before finishing in Glasgow — this was the route we took in search of our next six whiskies.
Our journey began with a night at Dalhousie Castle before collecting Isobel from Edinburgh and heading north-west into the Highlands. Our first proper base was Monachyle Mhor — a wonderfully wild Scottish stay with an exceptional tasting menu and a serious whisky collection.
The whisky hunt began in earnest with visits to Glenturret and Aberfeldy, meeting Ruaridh and Craig along the way. Two distilleries, two very different perspectives — and the beginning of our search for the six bottles that would make it into the collection.
From Aberfeldy we drove west to Oban and crossed to Mull. The following morning took us north to Tobermory Distillery, followed by lunch at the family-run Isle of Mull Cheese before catching the ferry back to the mainland.
Back on the mainland, the search continued beyond the distilleries. We explored independent bottlings at Loch Fyne Whiskies and spent the night at The George — a traditional Scottish inn with more than 500 whiskies tucked away in its whisky snug.
Then came the pilgrimage to Islay. After sailing via Colonsay to Port Askaig, we spent our time visiting Kilchoman and Laphroaig, eating and drinking around the island, and following recommendations from the people we met — including memorable drams at Port Charlotte and Ardbeg House.
Leaving Islay from Port Askaig, we crossed back to Kennacraig and made our way to Glasgow for the final night of the tour — dinner at Ubiquitous Chip, a last few drams in the West End and time to take stock of everything we'd discovered along the way.
Castle walls, lochside hideaways and whisky-filled Scottish inns — the places we stayed became as much a part of the tour as the distilleries themselves.
A suitably Scottish beginning — historic rooms, beautiful grounds and a great bar inside a castle that has stood for centuries.
Luxury with a wild side. Creative food, quirky rooms and cabins, loch swimming and an exquisite tasting menu. A very special treat and the best food we've had in years.
A warm and bustling pub hotel with large, characterful rooms, brilliant food, wonderful staff and a whisky snug holding more than 500 bottles.
Our final stop in Glasgow's West End — homely, comfortable and relaxed. The perfect base for one last evening of Scottish food and whisky before heading home.
A few moments from the distilleries, islands, landscapes and places we discovered along the way.
Our first Scottish tour in 2019 inspired the start of Azu Spirits — and everything we've built since: a line of themed blind tasting experiences designed to showcase the extraordinary diversity of flavour in Scotch, share the stories behind each distillery and reveal how craft and technique shape every dram.
Seven years later, we returned with a very different mission. This time we weren't simply exploring Scotland's whisky regions — we were searching for six bottles worthy of becoming our next tasting collection. Along the way, distillers, hoteliers, bartenders and whisky specialists shared the bottles they thought we shouldn't leave Scotland without trying.
The collection we brought home marks the beginning of our most exciting chapter yet, headlining a Christmas season of new launches — including something we've never made before — and laying the foundations for taking the Azu Spirits experience beyond our online home.
Everything we found comes home to Devon in two ways — a limited edition gift set and a tasting evening at The Cridford Inn.
Six hand-picked single malts in our signature blind tasting format — numbered bottles, tasting cards, a wax-sealed reveal and a curated guide to the route, including whisky recommendations from people in the heart of Scotland.
Six mystery drams, stories from the road and the reveal — a guided blind tasting at one of Devon's loveliest thatched inns. Tickets are limited. Call The Cridford Inn on 01626 853694 to enquire — more details coming soon.
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