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Browse through our blog posts to find out what life is like at Hoe Grange Holidays along with some great ideas for days out in the Peak District.

Whisky tour at White Peak Distillery – the true spirit of the Peak District

March 6, 2024
March 6, 2024 - Whisky tour at White Peak Distillery – the true spirit of the Peak District
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Discover a rich tapestry of flavours with a whisky tour in the Peak District

Deep within the Peak District, in an old wire works factory next to an ancient woodland, you can find the incredible White Peak Distillery. I was lucky enough to get a glimpse behind the scenes recently thanks to Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and can highly recommend the distillery tour for whisky connoisseurs and newbies alike!

Whisky tour of White Peak Distillery

A spectacular setting

As the small distillery team explained, when it came to setting up in 2016, the "where" was never in doubt. The dream was to make a true Peak District whisky. They were fortunate to find an amazing location, the former Johnson & Nephew wire works factory, right by the river and an ancient woodland. The building itself is stunning - high ceilings, exposed brick, and echoes of Derbyshire's industrial past everywhere.

As you step inside, you'll be greeted by the distinctive aromas of malted barley and a warm welcome from the team. Don't get too distracted by all the goodies beautifully displayed in the elegant shop as you pass through - there's plenty of time for shopping at the end!

Whisky tasting room at White Peak Distillery

Peak District whisky tour: from grain to glass

The passionate experts on hand will take you into the heart of the distillery, where you can see every step of their whisky-making process. Each stage is an intricate dance of science and artistry, combining traditional methods with experimentation and cutting-edge technology to produce the best tasting single malt whisky I've ever sampled.

Our guide, Tom, expertly shepherded us through the process, explaining the thought and care that's gone into developing a unique flavour. The local area is at the heart of this, with specially selected English and Derbyshire barley and a unique blend of live yeast developed with reference to Derbyshire's brewing heritage. This is finished with long fermentation in copper pot stills hand-built to the team's designs, and carefully sampled to ensure the right balance comes through.

Whisky tour Peak District


Their commitment to supporting small and local businesses comes through in their choice of casks too, all of which they source from family-owned businesses where relationships matter. Some have even been used by White Peak Distillery before to make their delicious rums.

The cool climes of the warehouse next to the river are perfect for slowly aging and maturing the whisky, maximising the flavours and characters that define their spirits.

White Peak Distillery whisky casks

The end result is the exceptional Wire Works whisky, presented in gorgeous bottles inspired by the building's past with delicately twisted wire designs curving around the bottleneck.

Whisky tasting: sip and savour the best the Peak District has to offer

No whisky tour is complete without a tasting session, and White Peak Distillery does not disappoint! After your visit to the operational distillery and the awesome cask warehouse, you can settle into the cosy tasting room complete with a log burner and artfully repurposed furniture from the original wire works.Whisky tasting Peak District

Your guide will take you on a journey from smooth and mellow to bold and peaty, and you'll have the opportunity to pick their brains on the best whisky for you or your friends and family before you go back through the shop.

Both David and Michael are big fans or Wire Works, and even Felicity (who is not a whisky fan!) likes the odd glass, so I left with shopping bags full of different samples, as well as a bottle of their delicious Shining Cliff Gin.

"He managed to impress two whisky-drinking Scotsmen"

Don't just take my word for it - White Peak Distillery is fast becoming a popular place to visit in the Peak District, and the reviews on TripAdvisor speak for themselves with over 550 5-star ratings. One visitor wrote, "We were given a brilliant and informative tour by Tom, who obviously knew his subject and was totally passionate about it. He managed to impress two whisky drinking Scotsmen with his tour of the distillery. We all bought bottles at the end of the tour and it was good value and an hour and a half well spent!"

Plan your Peak District whisky tour

Whether you're a seasoned whisky connoisseur or a curious explorer, you'll learn lots and have a truly unforgettable experience that delights your palate. Head over to White Peak Distillery's official website to find out more and plan your trip. The Tours & Events page is packed full information about the different options available, timings and booking details. Be sure to secure your spot in advance, as these tours are a coveted experience for both whisky afficionados and casual enthusiasts alike!

Cosy up for the evening with a dram

After you've raided the shop, head back to a cosy log cabin or glamping pod at Hoe Grange Holidays. It's the perfect tranquil retreat to enjoy a drop or two of the good stuff after long day exploring the peaks, with views over rolling hills, cosy firepits to gather round, and fresh countryside air. Book your stay and distillery tour now to elevate your next Peak District adventure to very sophisticated heights!

Love Local

We love supporting local businesses here at Hoe Grange, so we jump at any opportunity to go and look around local attractions or businesses. Whether it's stocking local products in our on-site shop, adding local goodies to our welcome pack, or simply knowing the best places to send guests for a brilliant and personally tailored holiday experience, we take maintaining our local knowledge seriously!

One of the next Visit Peak District & Derbyshire outings is to Forest Distillery, in the heights of the Dark Peak... Funnily enough, we're currently having a big debate in the office on who gets to go on that one!!

- Caroline

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Hoe Grange Holidays Tripadvisor Comments...

  • star rating  For the second year running, we have had a great family holiday at Hoe Grange. We had one cabin for the week, for two sisters and our elderly wheelchair-using... read more

    EJYork2013
    June 25, 2019

    star rating  What a wonderful find. As our first experience of needing accessible accommodation we could not have wished for better. Beautiful well equipped lodges in lovely surroundings. We stayed in both... read more

    L9943KBlesleym
    April 3, 2020

    star rating  We stayed in Skylark, one of the two glamping pods available at Hoe Grange in February 2020.

    Felicity & David welcomed us when we arrived to show us around... read more

    HelenLCarter
    February 6, 2020
  • star rating  We wanted a complete break and some peace and quiet and this was perfect. The caravan was secluded with beautiful views over the countryside. Everything was spotlessly clean and well... read more

    joanne B
    June 4, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in Rainster cabin for a long weekend 6 th to 9 th September. This was my 5 th visit to the amazing Hoe Grange. I had visited before... read more

    Jan Horsman J
    September 17, 2019

    star rating  It's been three years since we last visited but once we arrived it certainly didn't feel like it!
    We stayed in Hipley again which had had a refurbished wet... read more

    ElizabethA717
    September 21, 2019
  • star rating  Arrived and was shown to our pod, fantastic location and the pod was very good indeed plus we had home made bread and milk and tea and coffee. A... read more

    mickvfr
    July 28, 2019

    star rating  We spent four nights at Hoe Grange and had a lovely time. The location is fantastic and right next to the High Peak Trail. The cabin was very clean and... read more

    Big_Al_0000
    July 16, 2019

    star rating  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more

    David H
    October 25, 2019
  • star rating  Loved every minute of our stay, and so did the family and friends that came to stay. Excellent facilities in our cosy Hipley log cabin. By far the best... read more

    krimpenijssel
    October 25, 2019

    star rating  We've just returned from our second visit to Hoe Grange. The suggested riding routes with stunning scenery were enjoyed by my daughter and I while the menfolk were delighted with... read more

    Jdrichie12
    July 11, 2019

    star rating  Stayed last week, from 6th to 13th September in the log cabin called Hipley. This was amazing, it was our first visit but certainly not our last. Gold standard disability... read more

    548julie
    September 14, 2019
  • star rating  Recently spent a week in "Pinder" and had a lovely time. The location is stunning - the site is nestled in a beautiful valley on the edge of the Peaks... read more

    Peachey167
    July 16, 2019

    star rating  We stayed for a night in one of the cabins . The cabin was spotless and very well equipped , lots of extra touches were added like fresh eggs and... read more

    Ajtravels14
    February 3, 2020

    star rating  Felicity and David made us feel very welcome right from our booking. The pods are well equipped and spotlessly clean. The area is very peaceful with great views and we... read more

    Adventurer_12121
    January 30, 2020
  • star rating  What a lovely weekend away! We stayed in the lovely gypsy caravan, which was a wonderful and really unique experience. We took along our two horses, who also had a... read more

    rachelthomas2015
    June 18, 2019

    star rating  Second visit to the accessible holiday cabins at Hoe Grange. David and Felicity were as helpful and friendly as ever. We had a welcome pack of freshly baked bread, butter,... read more

    Charlotte M
    August 7, 2019

    star rating  What can I say?
    Absolutely superb!
    We have just returned from a family weekend staying in Daisybank cabin and the Skylark pod.
    It was our first trip away with my... read more

    Wheelieuser
    June 13, 2019
  • star rating  We stayed in the Skylark pod last October (2018) and had a lovely time. There was homemade, rustic goods (bread, biscuits etc) when we arrived. Felicity and David who run... read more

    KBarry
    September 15, 2019

    star rating  lovely surroundings real farm country with chickens paying you a visit nice decking area to chill at the end of the day accommodation very good plenty to do nearby... read more

    vincent s
    July 28, 2019

    star rating  A beautiful place to stay! Amazingly run family business! Everyone were very welcoming, friendly and cozy! The skylark pod we stayed in was very clean, cozy and well equipped! The... read more

    sophiee249
    January 2, 2020
  • star rating  We stayed in Pinder cabin and had a lovely stay, the cabin was spacious and comfortable, nice and warm after cold days out. The children loved meeting the animals and... read more

    Tiggywinkle15
    November 5, 2019

    star rating  Lovely place to holiday near to interesting locations and easy access to the High Peak trail and Carsington Water. Part of a working farm with fresh produce to enjoy during... read more

    Angie B
    August 3, 2019

    star rating  Myself and my sister travelled to Costa Rica and Panama via Viva Holidays Ltd. The holiday was exceptional and one to be treasured forever. Andrew at Viva Holidays... read more

    Paula C
    July 4, 2019
  • star rating  We have just returned from a short stay in one of the pods on site at Hoe Grange Holidays. We couldn’t recommend them enough. The pod has everything you could... read more

    Catboy86
    August 17, 2019

    star rating  We had a lovely time staying in one of the incredibly well equipped pods. I bought my pony along and we had some great rides on the high peak trail.... read more

    plopster1
    June 7, 2019

    star rating  Another great holiday at Hoe Grange - such a great place for us all to holiday as a family - this time with a baby, a 3 yr old, a... read more

    Thesamps
    October 4, 2019
  • star rating  On arriving at Hoe Grange in a downpour, we doubted if we’d made the right decision to go glamping, but after the warm welcome from David and a quick tour,... read more

    karenmD4738KD
    June 25, 2019

    star rating  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more

    dghiggs61
    October 25, 2019

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