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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.
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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.
HighlandsBy 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.
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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 Orkneyis characterised by its exceptional
smoothness, dried fruits and aromatic peat.
