Despite a dodgy Viking rebrand and an increasingly corporate feel, this is still a good visit. It's a serious distillery that malts its own barley; see it and the peat kiln used to dry it on the excellent, well-informed, hour-long tour (book ahead). The standard 12-year-old is a soft, balanced malt, great for novices and aficionados alike; the 18-year-old is among the world’s finest drams. This and older whiskies can be tasted on more specialised tours (£20 to £100), which you can prearrange.
There's also a shop in the center of Kirkwall, good for merchandise but not doing tastings at time of research.
