Scotch Whisky Regions
A Simple Way To Navigate Malt Whiskies.
Navigating the vast range of single malts from distilleries across Scotland can feel daunting but looking to the traditional whisky regions can be helpful.
There are five traditional Scotch whisky regions, Highland, Speyside, Lowland, Campbeltown and Islay, plus an unofficial sixth region, Island. Historically whiskies made in the same geographical region would have had a similar style and flavour profile. For example, Speyside whiskies were typically sweeter and Islay whiskies were typically smoky.
Following a boom in whisky production, new production methods and experimentation with maturation, the flavours produced by a distillery are much wider and more varied than previously possible and therefore those regional flavour boundaries are blurring and expanding.
However, knowing your whisky regions can still be a useful guide. Most older distilleries have retained elements of their classic regional flavour in their core products, so these are a good place to start when exploring single malts. When you taste a whisky, take note of which region it is from, then try more malts from that region. Or to taste something completely different, choose a malt from another region. Over time you will learn what flavours you like and then know where to seek them out from distilleries across Scotland.
Lowland Region
Clydeside Stobcross / 46% vol.
The Lowland region lies south of an imaginary line that runs from Greenock on the west coast to Dundee in the east. The Clydeside produces a classic Lowland-style single malt whisky which is light and fresh. Stobcross is their core malt with floral notes, tropical fruits, sweet vanilla and a smooth finish.
Highland Region
Stronachie 10 Year Old / 43% vol.
The Highland region is the largest geographically, it includes nearly all of mainland Scotland from above the Lowland region up to the North coast. Stronachie is a traditional Highland-style single malt which is rich, sweet and spicy with flavours of honey and malty biscuits, then lingering pepper and cereal notes.
Speyside Region
Cask Speyside 12 Year Old / 46% vol.
Over half of all Scotland’s distilleries are located in Speyside, a small area of the mainland in the Northeast, centred around the River Spey. Malts from Speyside are generally the sweetest of all Scotch whiskies and Cask Speyside showcases that sweetness along with flavours of spiced berry, citrus and orchard fruit.
Islay Region
Cask Islay Classic / 46% vol.
Islay is a small island located off the West Coast and part of the Inner Hebrides. The land is covered in peat bogs, the fuel traditionally used for malting barley, and a major influence on the smoky and medicinal flavour of malts from this region. Cask Islay is a classic Islay malt with flavours of sweet smoke, lemon and salted nuts.
Island Region
Cask Orkney 15 Year Old / 46% vol.
This unofficial category is for malts from the Islands which tend to have a coastal flavour due to their location, often with a touch of peatiness that is generally softer and sweeter than their cousins from Islay. Cask Orkney is a perfect example of this with flavours of subtle smoke balanced with stone fruit and sweet spice.
Classic Drams Tasting Set
5x 30ml Samples in a Gift Box
Do you want to try them all and expand your knowledge of single malt regions? Pick up one of our tasting sets which has samples of all 5 whiskies featured in this blog. Allowing you to enjoy your own whisky tasting session at home.