10 of the world's most unique whisky distilleries to visit

Whisky might be steeped in tradition, but around the globe distillers are reimagining what it can be, and where it can be made. From a Japanese forest sanctuary to a buzzing East London warehouse, these aren’t just places to sip a dram or enjoy a cocktail, they’re destinations worth travelling to, each with its own story, flavour and setting you won’t forget.

For more like this, check out our expert guide to the best Scottish whisky distilleries to visit, the best whisky gifts to buy and the best English whiskies to buy.

Hakushu Distillery, Japan

Why go: For mountain air, cedar forests and some of the freshest-tasting whisky on earth.

Hidden high in Japan’s Southern Alps, Hakushu is a remote retreat for whisky lovers. Surrounded by cedar forests and mountain mist, it makes a whisky befitting its surrounds: fresh, herbaceous with a soft, forest floor smoke. The water at Hakushu, key to the whisky-making process, is so pure, it is bottled and sold on its own.

Getting here is part of the magic. A two hour train ride from Tokyo lifts you high into the forests. The distillery’s museum explains the meticulous craft behind Japanese whisky, and the tasting room lets you try drams you won’t find outside Japan. In spring, the forest hums with life; in winter, snow settles on the rooftops. Either way, it’s a place to slow down and savour this smoky gem of a single malt. suntory.com/factory/hakushu/

Cotswolds Distillery, England

Why go: For a countryside escape mixing rolling fields, honeyed-stone villages and award-winning English single malt.

Set among rolling fields and chocolate-box villages, the Cotswolds Distillery captures the charm of rural England in a bottle. It makes a fruity, full-bodied single malt using locally grown barley, matured in high quality oak casks on-site.

Tours are hands-on, with guided tastings and a peek at the stills in action. Afterwards, linger over coffee in the café or browse the shop for exclusive releases. They make their own gin, too if whisky is not your thing. Combine your visit with a wander through nearby Stow-on-the-Wold or Bibury, and you’ve got the perfect countryside escape. cotswoldsdistillery.com

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Maker’s Mark, Kentucky, USA

Why go: For a taste of bourbon heritage — and a chance to dip your own bottle in iconic red wax.

An icon of bourbon, Maker’s Mark is instantly recognisable by its red wax coated bottle, each hand-dipped on site. The distillery, at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, is just over an hours drive south of Louisville, or twice that from Nashville. It is pure Americana on arrival: white clapboard buildings, black warehouses and a limestone spring bubbling away. You’ll see the wax-dipping in action, watch labels being hand-cut, taste the spirit straight from the barrel and even dip your own bottle.

Star Hill Provisions, the on-site restaurant, dishes up bourbon-inspired Southern cooking such as fried chicken and pecan pie and is worth planning your tour around. makersmark.com/distillery

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Old Midleton Distillery, Ireland

Why go: To see one of the world’s largest copper pot stills and taste Irish whiskey history in the making.

Part working distillery, part time capsule, the Old Midleton Distillery in County Cork is home to famous Irish labels such as Jameson, Redbreast and Powers. The historic stone buildings sit alongside the modern plant, showing just how far Irish whiskey has come.

A newly renovated visitors centre takes you on an immersive tour not just of whiskey-making, but Irish whiskey history too. On the tour, you’ll walk beneath one of the largest copper pot stills in the world, nose casks in the maturation warehouse, and taste limited-edition whiskeys you won’t see outside the visitor centre. The shop is a treasure trove of collectable bottlings. And with Cork city and the seafood haven of Kinsale nearby, it’s easy to make a weekend of it. jamesonwhiskey.com

The East London Liquor Company, England

Why go: For small-batch creativity in a hipster urban setting, plus cocktails you’ll want to recreate at home.

Forget rolling hills and white-washed rural retreats, this is whisky with an East End edge. In a converted warehouse in Bow Wharf, the East London Liquor Co makes bold, experimental whiskies (plus gin, vodka and rum) using unusual cask finishes and small-batch creativity.

Tours are relaxed and chatty, often led by the distillers themselves, and the bar serves both drams and killer cocktails, as well as great food. Afterwards, wander along Regent’s Canal or hit nearby Broadway Market for street food. eastlondonliquorcompany.com

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Domaine des Hautes Glaces, France

Why go: To taste whisky that captures the terroir of the French Alps, from grain to glass.

High in the French Alps, Domaine des Hautes Glaces is all about terroir. They grow heritage grains on-site, malt them themselves and use glacial spring water to create organic single malts that taste of the mountain landscape.

The views alone are worth the trip. Think pure Sound of Music vibes. The tour shows a level of craftsmanship few can match. Visit in winter to pair whisky with skiing, or in summer for hiking and picnics in wildflower meadows. Either way, you’ll leave with a bottle that feels like a piece of the Alps. hautesglaces.com/en

Bushmills Distillery, Northern Ireland

Why go: To sip smooth Irish whiskey just minutes from the Giant’s Causeway.

Dating back to 1608, Bushmills is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery and it’s still going strong today. The triple-distilled Irish single malt whiskeys made here are famously smooth and honeyed, perfect for sipping by the fire in the quaint Bushmills Inn, next door.

The tour takes you from barley to barrel, finishing in a cosy tasting room. Pick up a distillery-exclusive bottle from the shop before heading out along the Causeway Coastal Route, one of Europe’s most spectacular drives, with the Giant’s Causeway just minutes away. bushmills.eu/about-the-distillery/

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Stauning Distillery, Denmark

Why go: For Nordic whisky with a coastal twist, made in striking, fisherman-hut-inspired buildings.

On Denmark’s windswept west coast, Stauning makes Nordic-inspired single malts and rye whiskies using locally grown grain and traditional floor malting. The whisky has a savoury-sweet character that speaks of the sea air and Danish barley.

The design-led modern black distillery buildings, inspired by fishermen’s huts, are as striking as the whisky inside. Tours end with tastings of their core and experimental releases, best enjoyed while gazing out at the dunes. stauningwhisky.com

Kavalan Distillery, Taiwan

Why go: For tropical, fruit-rich whisky made in one of the most dramatic landscapes in Asia.

In just over a decade, Kavalan has put Taiwan on the whisky map. The warm, humid climate in Yilan County speeds up ageing, giving their single malts a lush, tropical fruit character you can taste from the first sip.

The sleek visitor centre, which welcomes over a million visitors a year, offers guided tastings, blending sessions and a chance to try rare cask-strength releases. Outside, the mountains and coastline tempt you to linger. Plan your trip around the island’s legendary night markets and you’ll be sipping whisky one minute and discovering street food the next. kavalanwhisky.com

Starward Distillery, Australia

Why go: For wine-cask-aged whisky with a sunny Melbourne personality.

Starward rips up the whisky rulebook. Based in Melbourne, a city with a reputation for doing things differently, the single malt whisky here is aged in Australian wine barrels, giving the spirit a juicy, berry-rich flavour that’s made for sunny-day drinking.

Housed in a converted airplane hangar in Port Melbourne, the distillery offers tours, tastings and a bar serving inventive cocktails. You’re just a short tram ride from Melbourne’s laneway bars, food markets and coffee roasters giving all the makings of a perfect city break. starward.com.au