The Highlands has a growing number of independent chocolatiers. There are also distilleries which offer whisky/gin and chocolate tasting experiences.
Hot chocolate and cookie at Cocoa Mountain, Balnakeil
Photo credit: “A Different Kind Of Mountain” by Andrew, CC BY 2.0
TASTE TALK, DUNKELD AND PITLOCHRY
Luxury tasting experiences which pair locally made chocolate truffles with malt whiskies and gins, music and film. Book a 'Fling' in one of their two Tasting Lounges.
Transport: 20 minutes' walk from Dunkeld train station; 5 minutes' walk from Pitlochry train station.
See our Guide to Dunkeld and Guide to Pitlochry for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Taste Talk in Dunkeld is in the green building on the right
With the aim to bring fine dining to fine chocolate, all their chocolates are made in Pitlochry and sold in their town centre shop.
Transport: 5 minutes' walk from Pitlochry train station.
See our Guide to Pitlochry for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Founded: 1898
Products: 15 year old single malt whisky, limited edition single malt whiskies
Ingredients: Water from Lochan na Doire-uaine in the nearby hills
Tastings: A Taste of Dalwhinnie (whisky and paired Highland Chocolatier tasting) (30 minutes)
Further details: Remotely located in the Cairngorm National Park, this is the highest (1164 feet above sea level) and coldest working distillery in Scotland. Possibly also the wettest - it is usually raining when we pass Dalwhinnie!
Shop and bar on site serving a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Transport: 10 minutes' walk from Dalwhinnie train station.
See our Guide to Dalwhinnie for more details about this small village.
Dalwhinnie Distillery
CAIRNGORM GIN, AVIEMORE
Founded: 2019
Products: Signature Edition Gin, special editions Cairngorm Reindeer Special Edition, Rothiemurchus Estate Edition and Mountain Strength Edition
Ingredients: Water from the River Spey. Includes 9 botanicals, inspired by the flora and fauna of the Cairngorms National Park
Tastings: Cairngorm Gin and Chocolate Tasting Experience
Further details: Winner of Small-Batch Gin Producer of the Year 2020.
Transport: 5 minutes' taxi journey from Aviemore train station.
See our Guide to Aviemore for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Founded: 1843
Products: Range of single malt whiskies including 12 year old.
Tours and tastings: The Innovation Tour (1 hour 45 minutes) - 3 drams and chocolate pairing. June - August only.
Further details: 12 year old malt was winner of the World Whiskies Awards 2024. Involved in a successful project to revive a native European oyster reef in the Dornoch Firth.
Transport: 5 minutes' taxi journey from Tain train station. Although distance-wise it is walkable (1.5 miles/2.41 km), you would need to walk along the verge of the very busy A9 with no pavement which we would advise against.
The beautiful grounds of the distillery
Whisky barrels outside the distillery
HIGHLAND WHISKY CHOCOLATES, GOLSPIE
This company makes whisky, gin, baileys and fruit chocolates which are gluten free, as well as a vegan range.
They are based at Golspie Industrial Estate. Visitors are welcome and receive a free chocolate!
Transport: 15 minutes' walk from Golspie train station.
See our Guide to Golspie for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
COCOA MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATIER (Dornoch, from Tain train station)
This popular chocolatier produces truffles, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, dairy-free chocolate and alcohol free chocolate. They use organic and locally sourced ingredients where possible.
The premises has a shop and a cafe.
Transport: 15 minutes' bus journey from Tain to Dornoch.
See our Guide to Dornoch for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
This independent chocolate factory has a small shop and cafe where it is possible to watch the handmade production through a viewing window. Anyone for a marmite chocolate?!
Transport: 10 minutes' walk from Oban train station.
See our Guide to Oban for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Oban Chocolate Company is on the Corran Esplanade behind the Marina
Founded: 1794
Products: Single malt whiskies including 14 year and 18 year old.
Tastings: Milk, Dark and Drams - A Paired Whisky and Chocolate Experience (1 hour). Chocolates from the Oban Chocolate Company.
Further details: One of the oldest and smallest distilleries in Scotland, it predates the town. Also has a shop and bar on site.
Transport: 5 minutes' walk from Oban train station
See our Guide to Oban for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
GLEN MORAY DISTILLERY, ELGIN
Founded: 1897
Products: Single malt whisky
Ingredients: Water from the River Lossie
Tastings: Chocolate and Whisky Tasting (1 hour)
Further details: A wide variety of casks are used. There is also a Visitor Centre with coffee shop and gift shop.
Transport: 30 minutes' walk from Elgin train station.
See our Guide to Elgin for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
TORABHAIG DISTILLERY, TEANGUE, SKYE
Founded: 2017
Products: Single malt whisky
Tours and tastings: Whisky & Chocolate Pairing Tour (1 hour)
Further details: Located in a restored farmhouse dating from 1760. Shop and cafe on site.
Transport:
From Broadford: 30 minutes' bus journey from Broadford to Teangue - see Stagecoach services 52, 152 (alight at stop 'Teangue, Road End' followed by 5 minutes' walk).
From Armadale: 5-10 minutes' bus journey from Armadale to Teangue - see Stagecoach services 52, 152.
See our Guide to Skye for more details about the island.
Founded: 2017
Products: Single malt whisky, gin
Ingredients: Water from their own well, Scottish barley malted with Highland peat, gin contains botanicals from Raasay
Tours and tastings: Raasay X Chocolate of Glenshiel Tour and Tasting (45-60 minutes)
Further details: The only distillery in Scotland where you can stay overnight in the same building as a working distillery.
Housed in the restored nineteenth century Borodale House. Hotel, restaurant, shop and bar on site.
Transport:
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Sconser to Raasay. The distillery is 10 minutes' walk from the ferry terminal.
See our Guide to Skye for more details about Raasay.
Isle of Raasay visible in the distance
This popular chocolatier produces truffles, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, dairy-free chocolate and alcohol free chocolate. They use organic and locally sourced ingredients where possible.
The premises has a shop and a cafe.
Transport: 15 minutes' walk from the centre of Durness in Balnakeil Craft Village.
See our Guide to the bus from Inverness to Durness for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat in Durness. It is also possible to visit from Thurso - see our Guide to the bus from Thurso to Durness.
Page last updated 23 March 2026