Scotland may be a relatively low country compared to the United States ( it ’s about the size of South Carolina ) , but it produces an immense variety ofwhiskies . The land is divide into six different regions , each of which is be intimate for its own distinct style of whisky .
Depending on the region in which it ’s made , scotchcan range in flavor from luminance and fruity , to rich and briny , to dark and smoky . There ’s a malt whisky for just about every whisky devotee — you just have to have a go at it where to look . Here ’s a ready to hand guide to help you get to have intercourse each of these regions and the particular whiskies they produce .
The Highlands
Generally , Highlands whisky rely more heavily on malt flavor thanpeat , but from there it catch more complicated . There is a wide-eyed cooking stove of whisky style within the region itself . In the Frederick North , you ’re more likely to find rich , sweet and cereal - driven malt whisky , including trade name like Glenmorangie and Dalmore . Move into the westerly Highlands and you ’ll see fruit- and smoke - flecked whiskies like those from Dalwhinnie and Oban . To the east you’re able to find dry and fruity single malts like Glen Garioch , and to the Dixie you ’ll come across a miscellanea of lighter , fruitier whiskies like Edradour and Aberfeldy .
examine these Highland scotches : Oban , Glenmorangie , The Dalmore , Dalwhinnie , Glen Garioch , Edradour , Aberfeldy
Speyside
Speyside technically falls within the Highlands , but the region gets its own designation thanks to its dense population and because it is house to nearly one-half of all of Scotland ’s distillery . The region is divide into eight different areas — Rothes , Strathisla , Lossie , Liver , Fridhorn , Dufftown , Deveron and Speyside Central — and is know for nutty , sweet and fruity scotches that are low-spirited in smoke . It ’s also your best good for finding whiskies finished in sherry barrels , particularly from big brands like The Macallan and Glenfarclas . The region also produces some lighter - bodied scotch like Glen Elgin .
Try these Speyside malt whisky : The Glenlivet , Aberlour , The Balvenie , The Macallan , Glenrothes
Islands
The islands surrounding the western coast of Scotland are technically part of the Highlands — Scotlanddoes not formally recognizethe Islands as their own area — but because they produce a rather specific flavor of scotch , the region is often regarded as being separate . whisky from islands like the Isle of Skye and Orkney lie somewhere between malty whiskies and smoky , brackish whiskies , make them the perfect training rack whisky for those looking to make the jump from the Highlands to Islay .
essay these Island scotches : Talisker(Isle of Skye),Highland Park(Orkney),Scapa(Orkney),Jura(Isle of Jura )
The Lowlands
The Lowlands encompass the southernmost part of the res publica , begin directly underneath the Highlands and stretch from Greenock in the west , to Dundee in the east . Only a few Lowland still remain , but they are be intimate for whiskies that are typically lighter in gloss as well as in tang . Distillers rely on malt to produce soft , delicate , citrus - forward savor , and are also known for using a triple distillate method .
Try these Lowland Scotch malt whisky : Auchentoshan , Bladnoch , Glenkinchie
Islay
More often than not , the great unwashed link up Scots whisky with the flavor of smoke . But for the most part , heavy , peaty Scotch malt whiskey come from just one neighborhood : Islay . Islay is surrounded on all sides by salt pee , and its distilleries use fierce amounts of peat to make their whisky . The resulting purport are intense , smoky and often briny . Not only do distilleries use peated barley , but the water used to make the whisky often filters through peat , encouraging even more earthy smell .
Try these holly-leaf cherry score : Lagavulin , Laphroaig , Ardbeg
Campbeltown
Located on the tip of the Kintyre peninsula , Campbeltown used to be din with whisky distilleries — it once had 30 . Now , though , the part is down to just three in operation distillery . Like Islay , it ’s surrounded by piss , so its whisky are often briny , but also carry sweet flavors like brittle and fruit , in gain to fume from peat .
try out these Campbeltown Scotch : Glen Scotia , Glengyle , Springbank
