Sipsmiths Distillery in London, courtesy of Sipsmiths
If there's a pilgrimage for the spirit enthusiasts out there, it's in Great Britain. England, Wales, and Scotland each have their own rich histories when it comes to the good stuff, but the three together really make for a momentous journey.
To help, we've rounded up some of the best ways to try out some small-batch, bespoke, and brewery-fresh varieties of Britain's big three—whisky, gin, and beer—no matter which region you're in. To make your trip even easier, book a British Airways flight and you can receive two free nights at select hotels, thanks to British Airways and VisitBritain. No excuse not to start planning that pilgrimage now!
WHISKY & SCOTCH
Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Laphroaig distilleries on Islay. Islay is an extraordinarily picturesque island off the southwestern coast of Scotland. It's a famous destination for landscape photographers and bird-watchers, but the fact that it hosts three of the most esteemed scotch brands in the world means it's number one on the list for most whisky enthusiasts.
A harbor and hotel on the isle of Islay (©VisitBritain / Britain on View)
Islay Festival, May 24th - June 1st. The Islay Festival is a great reason to head over to western Scotland and explore this picturesque island. The festival features exhibitors from the aforementioned Ardbeg, Bruichladdic, and Laphroaig distilleries along with several famous whisky makers. The island is on Port Ellen, so boating is an option, as well as bicycle rentals and golfing. To get there, catch the ferry to Port Ellen from Kennacraig.
Penderyn Distillery (Courtesy of WalesOnView)
Talisker Distillery in northern Scotland. Talisker produces premium scotches that consistently win tasting competitions. It's the only distillery on the Isle of Skye—which is quite remote—but the distillery gives a world-class tour that includes a tasting of its famous 10-year single malt variety.
Canny Man's in Edinburgh. This pub is legendarily curmudgeonly—a sign outside prohibits credit cards, cell phones, cameras, and backpackers—but it's part of the charm when you want to experience a bit of the gruff atmosphere that makes old British pubs famous. And most importantly? Canny Man's offers literally hundreds of whiskies, including one blended by the pub itself.
Bow Bar (Courtesy of...)
Bow Bar in Edinburgh. Head to Bow Bar if you're interested in a traditional Edinburgh pub experience. It's not as old as some of the island’s other famous pubs—in fact, it's barely older than 12—but it definitely delivers in terms of cask-conditioned ales, meat pies, toasties, and the all-important single malt scotch.
GIN
Plymouth Gin's Blackfriars Distillery (Courtesy of Plymouth Gin)
Plymouth's Black Friars Distillery at the Barbican, Plymouth. You could hardly call yourself a gin fan if you didn't want to tour the Plymouth distillery. It's been making gin since 1793, and currently offers several tour levels, a bar, and an on-site brasserie.
Portobello Star in London. The Star serves up its own house-distilled gin, Portobello Road. It's got first-rate cocktails and ambience, but the real draw is the Ginstitute, wherein guests can blend their own personal gin variety.
BEER
Skirrid Mountain Inn in Wales. Skirrid is outside Abergavenny, and claims to be the oldest pub in Wales. It once doubled as a courtroom and place of execution: in 1685 during the Monmouth Rebellion, over 200 rebels met their end here from a beam in the pub's stairwell. If you're in the type to want some grisly history with your brews, this is the place to be.Meantime Brewing Company in London. This is the largest brewery to open in London since the 1930s, and they're making the most of it with some great takes on classic brews. Meantime also offers three tour packages: Classic, Bespoke, and Pie & Pint night. Each includes a tour of the brewery followed by a tutored tasting of their beer selection, but Bespoke & Pie and Pint tours include meals designed to pair with the tasting.
Ye Olde Mitre nestled in historic London (Courtesy of Ye Olde Mitre)
Ye Olde Mitre in London. Speaking of history, it's hard to beat this pub on Ely Place. If the Skirrid Mountain Inn's bloody past sounds up your alley but you can't get out of London, Ye Olde Mitre certainly has enough to satisfy your morbid curiosity. It's nearby the spot where William Wallace was hanged and drawn and quartered, along with many other martyrs and traitors throughout the years. On the lighter side, Queen Elizabeth I is said to have once danced around the cherry tree out front with Sir Christopher Hatton.
The Art School Cafe & Bar in Glasgow. This is a food and drink space adjoining the Art School of Glasgow, and it lives up to its relationship—not a day goes by without shows by up-and-coming bands, art exhibitions, or pub quizzes on the calendar. If you're in the mood for people watching, there's plenty of the hip crowd to keep you entertained.
Hastings, surrounded by cliffs and beaches (©VisitBritain / Britain on View)
Hastings Beer & Music Festival in Hastings, south of London and East of Brighton. If you're in the mood for more of an all-purpose event, the Hastings Festival is a great place to catch a few outdoor concerts while you sample some famous and local brews. It's also near Brighton, which is famous for its beaches and independent shops.
Crooked House Pub in the West Midlands. This pub was built in 1765, but it's more famous for a crooked foundation caused by mining subsidence--the slow filling in of old mining caverns. The result is a building that is four feet lower on the left side, and it's quite the sight. They have a great mix of brews and a fantastic restaurant serving up gourmet takes on classic British fare.
The Temple in Manchester. It's a bit small and divey and was repurposed out of an old public restroom, but don't let that stop you from visiting this unusual pub: it's underground at Great Bridgewater St., has a jukebox full of great Manchester bands that sometimes stop by, and has tons of great bottled beers to try.
Lake District in Cumbria, England (©VisitBritain / Joe Cornish)
Jennings Brewery in the Lakes. Jennings prides itself in being a traditional brewery and excels at its craft by way of those methods. Brewing is still done with pure Lakeland water—it's located in the gorgeous Lake District—pulled from the brewery's own well, and only the best English malt and hops are used. Tours conclude, of course, with a tasting of some Jennings ales in their own bar, the Old Cooperage.
The Nutshell in Bury St. Edmunds. This pub definitely lives up to its claim of being the oldest pub in Britain: with room for only 10 drinkers, it can get quite cramped. But it's certainly quaint and historic, having been serving patrons since 1867.
Lord Nelson's in Norfolk. Lord Nelson's still has the benches that British hero Admiral Horatio Nelson sat upon during his frequent visits in the 18th century. If you're feeling strong-willed, they even serve up a concoction called Nelson's Blood, inspired by the tale that sailors snuck sips of the brandy from the barrel holding his preserved body as they sailed home from Trafalgar.
If these selections aren't enough, we've got many more possibilities around the island on the map below, in addition to our favorites listed above—whisky in red, gin in blue, beer in yellow.
View A Pub Crawl Through the Island of Great Britain in a larger map
