There are five Scotch Whisky regions in Scotland – Highland, Islay, Lowland, Speyside and Campbeltown. Each offers a different perspective on Scotch Whisky and has a different flavour profile.
If you are struggling with which scotch to try next, check out the flavour profiles below and see which tickles your fancy.
what are the 5 regions of scotch
Highland
By far the largest region in Scotland, covering the entire mainland north of the Highland-Lowland line. Because the Highlands covers such a large area, the region is divided into smaller territories based on the compass direction. Speyside is considered the fifth, and it’s own region.
Scotches suitable for any palate, from lighter whiskies to salty malts.
Glendronach Peated
Boasts a beautiful balance of peat characters, while maintaining the classic sherried Glendronach we all love.
Old Pulteney Huddart
A particularly smoky dram release in mid-2018. The bootle is named after the street on which the distillery resides.
Clynelish 14
A coastal and peaty single malt, this flagship from Clynelish boasts a wonderful flavour profile filled with distinctive waxy notes.
Islay
Pronounced ‘eye-luh’. Consider the island for whisky, Islay is located southwest of Scotland. Islay whisky is famous for its intense, heavily peated drams. Many have also described the aroma as medicinal, featuring notes of iodine, salt and seaweed. Islay has a population of about 3,000, the majority of whom work in the distilleries and the necessary industries (such as the growing and cultivation of the peat).
Fiery, heavily peated whiskies. Not for the faint of heart.
Lagavulin 16
First released in the early 1990s, with a hearty peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay.
Ardberg 10
A definite favourite of whisky lovers around the world, packing powerful peated deliciousness.
Caol Ila 12
One of our favourites, this whisky is not only light and fresh, but has the distinctive Caol Ila smoke.
Lowland
Extending over the entire south of the mainland, as its name suggests the landscape is much flatter than the Highlands. To this day, scotch produced here is related to Irish Whiskey in terms of production and taste. Meaning they are typically triple distilled, giving them a lighter character.
Soft, smooth and gentle. Grass, honeysuckle, cream, ginger, toffee, toast and cinnamon flavours.
Glenkinchie 12
The flagship expression from the Glenkinchie distillery, with lightness and grassy flavours.
Bladnoch Vinaya
Florals, chocolate, and spices in this no age- statement from the Bladnoch distillery.
Auchentoshan 12
Sweet and oaky flavours, with a barley sweetness and cocoa powder finish.
Speyside
Speyside has the greatest concentration of distilleries in Scotland in an area no larger than 15 miles wide! Named after the river Spey, which is also the water source for many distilleries located there. Considered to be delicate and fragrant, Speyside whisky are very suitable for beginners. This is because they are less complex, meaning less smoke than the scotches from the other regions, espcially Islay.
Low on peat and full of fruit. Speyside Scotch is usually matured in sherry casks and gives apple, pear, honey, vanilla and spice flavours.
BenRiach 10
A fantastic 10 year old, with honeyed fruit and softly toasted oak notes.
Macallan 12
Matured in a combination of American & European Sherry oak barrels. Creamy and honeyed.
Balvenie 12
The maturing imparts warming layers of vanilla spiciness, and fruity, honeyed depths.
Campbeltown
Once considered the Whisky capital of the world, in its heyday during the early 1800s, Campbeltown was home to over 30 active distilleries. Due to the poor economic developments in the region (some blame the introduction of prohibition in the US decimating the export market), the number of active distilleries was reduced over the decades to sadly just two: Glen Scotia and Springbank.
Varied and full of flavour. Salt, smoke, vanilla, fruit and toffee flavours.
Glen Scotia Double CasK
This single malt is finished in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks.
Kilkerran 12
Lightly peated and non-chill filtered. Oak notes, velvety smooth finish.
Springbank 10
Matured in bourbon and sherry casks adds a slightly peated, wonderful depth of flavour.
