THE WHISKY REGIONS
OF SCOTLAND
Nicholas King
Hall’s Fine Wine & Spirits
Scotland is the largest producer of whisky in the world, with over 150 distilleries currently operating. There are iconic distilleries located all over the country, but much with like wine in France, each region produces whiskies of unique characteristics and distinct flavour profiles.
The Highlands
The largest region of all, and with the most diversity, the Highlands covers a majority of the mainland from the north of Glasgow to Thurso in the north. Historically, this region produced Whiskies in smaller stills as barley was scarcer, leading to heavy, rich expressions. Given the vast range and diversity of this region, it is impossible to lock down a specific flavor profile.
Bottles from up north tend to be fuller, sweet malts, bottles from the south are typically fruitier and lighter. Bottles from the western highlands may share a similar smoky/peaty profile as the Islay malts, Eastern bottles typically include notes of the sea, while displaying more variety than anywhere else in the region.
The Highlands are home to some of the most popular distilleries in Scotland including Dalmore, Edradour, Glendronach, Glenmorangie, Tomatin, and many more.
Lowlands
Despite being the second-largest of the scotch regions, the Lowlands is home to only a handful of distilleries. Meeting the border of the Highlands, the Lowlands covers the mainland to the south.
Single Malts from this region are becoming increasingly rare, and the majority of the Scotch produced here is blended. Unlike the other regions, whiskies here used to be entirely triple distilled as common in Ireland, again contributing to their mellowness.
Whisky from this region is exceptionally light and mellow with mild sweet, herbal notes. Lighter in character, Lowland whisky is perfect for a pre-dinner drink. Of the few remaining distilleries, Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie are the most popular.
Islay
Islay (pronounced eye-luh) is a small island located to the west of the mainland. This small region spanning just 40km x 25 km punches well above its weight class with some of the most distinct, recognizable Whiskies produced from their ten distilleries. Love it or hate it, this region is idolized by many for their iconic hot, heavily-peated flavour profile.
These whiskies tend to be extremely powerful with their iconic peat smoke, as well as often containing strong ocean/medicinal characteristics with Brine and Iodine continuously recurring across the region. These ten distilleries all produce peated malts, with Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich also making un-peated options.
All ten of the distilleries on this island have reached immense popularity, with the most recognizable being Ardbeg, Bowmore, and Lagavulin.
Campbeltown
Historically one of the most popular regions, once home to over 30 distilleries, Campbeltown is now the smallest whisky-producing region in Scotland. Campbeltown is a small settlement located on the tip of the Kintyre peninsula off the western mainland. This small region is gaining popularity once again with two new distilleries set to open, and one more with plans to be built.
The few whiskies from this region are quite highly regarded, embracing their oceanic positioning, oily notes of brine and smoke are common, along with underlying sweet fruit.
The three currently operating distilleries on this peninsula are Glengyle, Glen Scotia, and Springbank.
Islands
The Islands region is a collection of all the whisky producing islands around Scotland, with the exception is Islay. While not officially recognized by the Scotch Whisky Association, these islands are technically a part of the Highlands, though are commonly recognized as a distinct region.
There are vast differences in the flavour profiles across the islands with the only shared note being some peat and salinity due to their positioning with the sea.
The most popular distilleries in this region are Arran, Highland Park, and Jura.
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