The Dram Queen - Tutored Tastings & Bespoke Whisky Experiences

The Dram Room

“Ann is hugely respected in the field and has been in the industry for decades. Her knowledge of whisky is incredible.”

“…the Dram Queen knows everything you ever wanted to know about whisky but were afraid to ask.”

“No better host that I know of."

The Dram Room:
Tailor-made Tutored Tastings

Passionate about Scotch whisky, Ann Miller, The Dram Queen, shares fascinating tastings to increase your understanding of the many different facets of Scotland’s iconic spirit and enhance your appreciation of every dram.

Engaging, enjoyable and memorable experiences bring Scotch whisky to life and enhance your enjoyment of it in Ann’s Dram Room.

Drawing on over 30 years working in the Scotch whisky industry, where her responsibilities included delivering in-depth training on all aspects of whisky and a wide range of brands in many countries of the world, Ann offers these insights to whisky enthusiasts visiting Speyside.

Tasting experiences take place in Ann’s Dram Room, conveniently located close to Macallan and Cardhu distilleries in the heart of Speyside. Tastings are “illustrated” with up to six tasting samples and focus on themes like age, region, style, cask selection etc. Sessions last one and a half hours to allow time for questions and the exchange of ideas.

Our customers and partners

“Many thanks again for the tutored tasting with our American guests who had a fantastic experience. Having not tasted whisky prior to visiting Scotland, they were definitely going home as new fans. … They said they could’ve sat the whole day enjoying their experience.”

“Thank you so much for such an enjoyable and informative whisky tasting experience. We have had an excellent afternoon, thank you.”

“My clients were blown away with your tastings and extensive whisky knowledge.”

“Best experience of our entire stay in Speyside! My friends and I visited several distilleries and had multiple tastings over the course of our trip, but Ann’s knowledge and demeanor [sic] put her a class above. Ann curated a wonderful experience for us!"

“Thank you once again for an excellent presentation. The folks on the tour really enjoyed it, even the ones who don’t like whisky!”

Scotch whisky de-mystified

This entertaining experience will help you navigate the often-confusing world of whisky and includes a tutored tasting of 6 samples of different types of Scotch whisky.

Discover the differences between malt and blended Scotch whiskies.
Explore Scotland’s malt whisky producing regions, discovering what distinguishes them from one another.
Taste samples matured in various types of oak casks and explore the often confusing world of “finishes”.
Appreciate the mysteries of whisky maturation.
Understand the terminology used by “whisky experts”.

What makes Speyside so special?

Discover how much Speyside’s identity draws on its history as well as the sense of place. An interactive tasting and discussion exploring Speyside, the area of Scotland with the greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries.

Includes a tutored tasting of 6 samples of malt whiskies from Speyside.

Speyside’s geographical boundaries are now officially recognised but there are many variations between drams.
Gain an insight into the fascinating contribution history has made to Speyside’s development.
The region’s drams were considered, “fruity, floral, rich” but now distilleries offer a diverse range of flavours.

Virtual tour of Scotch whisky regions with the Dram Queen

Explore Scotland one dram at a time.

In this tasting experience you will discover many of the differences which distinguish Scotland’s malt whisky producing regions from one another. Learn to navigate the different styles of these regions during a tutored tasting of 6 samples of malt whiskies, which will include one from each of them.

An entertaining and informative experience which also explores recent developments which add to the rich diversity of malt whiskies the length and breadth of Scotland.

Speyside’s whisky history

This tutored tasting experience includes 6 samples which bring to life key moments in Speyside’s story:

The struggles of the illicit distillers and smugglers during the 1700’s and early 1800’s as they overcame adversity to distil the water of life despite the best endeavours of the authorities.
The impact of the Excise Act 1823 which permitted legal distillation for the first time in what is now Speyside.
The arrival of the railways in the mid-19th century transformed the distillation of single malt in Speyside. Many new distilleries were established close to the railways which brought coal to fire their stills and created new routes to markets in Scotland and around the world, far beyond the hitherto isolated region.
Some recent developments as Speyside’s whisky industry continues to adapt.

The Dram Room