Auchentoshan Distillery

In Scotland there are plenty of whiskey factories and most offer a guided tour to take you through the processes of production and maturation. We chose the Auchentoshan Factory as it was close to Glasgow, returning from the North Lochs. Admission was 5 pounds/person and included a glass to taste at the end. First it was explained that barley is processed outside the factory because it's an expensive process and takes up much space. They receive it and then fermented it in water, producing around 60% alcohol. You see the caves and try the strange liquid, which remains there for a week. It's then distilled to obtain a level of purity and lower alcohol.