A brief guide to Scotch whisky — everything that you need to knowScotch whisky has become increasingly popular, but what do you know about it? The world of whisky can be murky, but we are here to shed some light on it and provide you with the answers you need. Our brief guide tells you everything you need to know about Scotch whisky to help you become an expert.
What is classed as Scotch whisky?
Scotch whisky is a broad term used to describe malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland. Within Scotch whisky, there are five categories:
- Single malt Scotch whisky — made from malted barley and produced at one distillery
- Single grain Scotch whisky — made from grains and is produced at one distillery
- Blended malt Scotch whisky — made from malted barley and is a blend of spirits from multiple distilleries
- Blended grain Scotch whisky — made from grains and is a blend of spirits from multiple distilleries
- Blended Scotch whisky — made from barley and grains with a blend of spirits from multiple distilleries
For a whisky to be classed as a Scotch whisky, it must be aged in oak casks for at least three years and be at least 40% ABV. The whisky must also be produced, distilled, matured, and bottled in Scotland. A whisky made anywhere else in the world is not considered Scotch.
Scotch whisky will often have an age statement on the bottle, which reflects the youngest whisky in the bottle. If a distillery were to vat 20 barrels of 30-year-old whisky and add a drop of 10-year-old whisky to the bottle, it can only be legally considered as a 10-year-old Scotch whisky.
The recent rise in popularity of Scotch whisky saw a decline in the aged stocks in many distilleries, seeing an increase in No Age Statement (NAS) on Scotch whisky bottles. Distilleries do this by using any liquid they can find in their bottles. In these bottles, you can find a combination of older and younger spirits. The cakes used for these are carefully selected by a blender to create the desired flavour profile.
Where is Scotch whisky made?
Scotch whisky is made in Scotland, in a few different regions. We have details on each region below so you can learn more about them.
Campbeltown region
Campbeltown was once home to over thirty distilleries on the Kintyre peninsula on the southwest coast and was considered the whisky capital of the world. Things have changed, and there are no three distilleries left in operation.
These three distilleries produce a wide variety of styles, creating a diverse space for whisky.
Highland region
The highlands cover a huge area of Northern Scotland, with the exception of the Speyside, which is home to many distilleries. You can find a variety of styles of malts, including cereal, fruity, and nutty notes, meaning there is something for everyone.
The Islands are part of the highlands, but they are usually considered a region of themselves. The Islands span from the Isle of Arran on the southwestern side of Scotland to the Orkneys, producing a wide range of flavours. The flavours are usually peated and influenced by the sea.
Examples of highland whiskies include Dalmore, GlenDronach, Glenmorangie, and Tullibardine.
Examples of Island whiskies include Arran, Highland Park, Jura, and Tobermory.
Islay region
Islay is an island with distilleries from the island region surrounding it. The large number of distilleries on Islay has earned it its spot as its own region. Islay whisky is known for its heavy use of peat, with a typical Islay single malt being big, bold, and full of peat smoke.
Examples of Islay whiskies include Ardbery, Bruichladdich, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig.
Lowland region
South of the highlands lies the lowland region. Here, you can find a small number of distilleries, with some of them releasing single-malt Scotch whiskies. The whiskies produced in the lowland distilleries are usually mellow and smooth.
Speyside region
Speyside was originally part of the highlands but is now recognised as its own region. Speyside has a high concentration of distilleries on the River Sprey, specialising in Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Balvenie, and Aberlour whiskies.
Popular Scotch whiskies
Below, we have a list of the best and most popular Scotch whiskies for you to look out for:
The GlenDronach
The Macallan
Glenfiddich
Ardbeg
Aberlour
The Glenlivet
Highlight Park
Old Pulteney
Lagavulin
Johnnie Walker
Find your new Scotch whisky today
Now that you are an expert in Scotch whisky, it’s time to find your new whisky to drink. There are plenty of Scotch whisky
options to choose from, so why not see what whisky will await you?