The Single Malt Regions

The definition of Single Malt Scotch Whisky regions has been much debated and
changed since the 1784 Wash Act divided the country roughly into 'Highland' and
'Lowland' for tax purposes. It is now generally agreed that there are six Single Malt
Scotch Whisky regions, each having its own distinctive style.

Speyside
The greatest concentration of Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilleries can be found in the
Speyside region of Scotland.

This area, between the cities of Inverness and Aberdeen, sweeps from granite mountains
down to fertile countryside and is universally acknowledged as the heartland of malt
whisky distillation. Speyside Single Malts are noted in general for their elegance and
complexity, and often a refined smokiness.

Lowlands
The Lowlands are defined as being south of a line following old county boundaries and
running from the Clyde estuary to the river Tay.
The line swings north of Glasgow and Dumbarton and runs to Dundee via Perth. This
area tends to produce Single Malts in which the softness of the malted barley itself is
evident.

Highlands
By far the biggest region, the Highlands inevitably embraces wide variations.

The western part of the Highlands, at least on the mainland, has only a few, scattered,
distilleries, and it is difficult to generalise about their character. If they have anything in
common, it is a rounded, firm, dry character, with some peatiness.

The far north of the Highlands has several Single Malts with a notably heathery, spicy,
character which probably derives both from the local soil and the coastal location of the
distilleries. The more sheltered East Highlands and the Midlands of Scotland
(sometimes described as the South Highlands) have a number of notably fruity Single
Malts.

Islay
Islay, in the inner Hebrides, is blessed with numerous pockets of peat bog, lashed by the
wind, rain and sea.

It is only 25 miles long, but has no fewer than eight distilleries, although not all are
working. The Single Malts from this region are noted for their seaweed, iodine-like,
phenolic character.
Campbeltown
Campbeltown is situated on the peninsula called the Mull of Kintyre, on the west coast
of Scotland.

It once had about thirty distilleries, but now has only two. Campbeltown Single Malts
are very distinctive, with a briny character.

Islands
The Islands are a geographical region rather than a characteristic one.

Jura, the island just north of Islay, can be described as a Highland-like Single Malt.
Talisker, on Skye, has an explosive taste, peaty and sweet. Highland Park from Orkney
is characterised by its exceptional smoothness, dried fruits and aromatic peat.