SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERIES

THE HOME OF SCOTCH WHISKY

The practice of distilling whisky has been lovingly perfected throughout Scotland for centuries and began as a way of turning rain-soaked barley into a drinkable spirit, using the fresh water from Scotland's crystal-clear springs, streams and burns.

To this day, distilleries across the country continue the tradition of using pure spring water from the same sources that have been used for centuries.

From the source of the water and the shape of the still to the wood of the cask used to mature the spirit, there are many factors that make Scotch whisky so wonderfully different and varied from distillery to distillery.

No two are the same; each has its own proud heritage, unique setting and its own way of doing things that has evolved and been refined over time. Paying a visit to a distillery lets you discover more about the environment and the people who shape the taste of the Scotch whisky you enjoy. So, when you're sitting back and relaxing with a dram of our most famous export at the end of your distillery tour, you'll be appreciating the essence of Scotland as it swirls in your glass.

Home to the greatest concentration of distilleries in the world, Scotland is divided into five distinct whisky regions. These are Islay, Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Campbeltown.

Campbeltown

With just three working distilleries, Campbeltown is Scotland's smallest whisky-producing region. While some argue this doesn't warrant it being designated a whisky region, its single malts boast unique characteristics that have a devoted following.

In its heyday, this small Kintyre harbour town was a prolific producer with more than 30 legal distilleries, earning it the moniker of 'whisky capital of the world' - later conferred on Dufftown in Speyside.

With ample pasture, peat bogs and coal mines, and many farms growing barley, Campbeltown distillers had all the resources they needed. It became a whisky boomtown in the 1800s, thanks largely to its bustling port.

It became a victim of its own popularity though: demand was so great that distilleries couldn't keep up and ultimately the quality fell. When rival Speyside was connected to the newly built railways in the north, allowing superior quality spirit to reach the market more quickly, Campbeltown fell into further decline.

Nowadays, the remaining distilleries produce whisky with unusual characteristics. Although local sources are depleted, peat from Tomintoul in the Highlands ensures the single malts retain their smoky palate. The sea mists from the Mull of Kintyre provide a maritime flavour.

DISTILLERIES

01 Glen Scotia Distillery

02 Glengyle/Kilkerran Distillery

03 Springbank Distillery

Lowland

With miles of farmland and neat woodlands, the Lowlands is one of the most charming and accessible whisky regions in Scotland. Encompassing Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife, it reaches from the Highland/Lowland divide down to the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway, and west to Ayrshire and Arran.

The mild climate and flat land make it ideal for growing barley, and it is famous for light, unpeated whiskies - the 'Lowland Ladies' - known for their sweet, grassy notes and gentle style.

Although many of the historic distilleries here declined in the 18th and 19th centuries due to growing demand for blended whisky, which favoured robust single malts, a few long-established single-malt distilleries remain open. Several have opened in recent years, and there are five high-volume grain distilleries, producing whiskies used in some of the most famous blends.

Take advantage of the Lowlands' great transport links to learn how new single malts are created at an artisan distillery, or visit a long-established distillery to discover more about historic production methods.

The A.D. Rattray Whisky Experience in Kirkoswald has a vast selection of malts and you can fill your own bottle straight from a cask. You could also learn about whisky-making on a 'barrel ride' at the Scotch Whisky Experience, on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, home of the world's largest whisky collection.

DISTILLERIES

01 Ailsa Bay Distillery

02 Annandale Distillery

03 Auchentoshan Distillery

04 Bladnoch Distillery

05 Cameronbridge Distillery

06 Daftmill Distillery

07 Eden Mill Distillery

08 Girvan Distillery

09 Glenkinchie Distillery

10 Kingbarns Distillery

11 North British Distillery

12 Starlaw Distillery

13 Strathclyde Distillery

NEW DISTILLERIES 2017

01 Aberargie Distillery

02 Clydeside Distillery

03 Glasgow Distillery Co.

04 Lindores Abbey Distillery

Islay

Islay, off Scotland's west coast, is just 25 miles long. Its rocky bays and sheltered inlets house eight active distilleries and has long been crowned Scotland's 'whisky land'.

Most of its original distilleries – some long since lost to history – started as farm distilleries, and retreated to secluded glens and caves when excise duty was introduced in the 17th century. In actual fact, the exciseman didn't dare set foot on Islay for over 150 years because of the islanders' fearsome reputation, but don't worry nowadays they are well-known for their warm hospitality.

According to legend, monks first brought the art of whisky distilling here from Ireland, which on a good day you can see from the south-west coast. They found Islay ideal for distilling whisky thanks to the abundance of peat, spring water and barley.

The peat distinguishes Islay's single malts from those of other regions. Burned in kilns to dry the malted barley, it has been formed over millions of years, rich in decaying mosses, heather and lichens and very different to mainland peat. Centuries of salty spray have penetrated the deep layers of peat and seeped into the warehouses of maturing casks. The resulting malts are pungent, powerful and characterful. Islay single malts are renowned for their smokiness with faint notes of sea air and seaweed.

Other nearby attractions in Islay:

Machrie Golf Links, RSPB Loch Gruinart Reserve, Dunyvaig Castle, Cultoon Stone Circle, Persabus Pottery Ceramic Café, Bowmore, Port Ellen, Port Askaig, Port Charlotte.

DISTILLERIES

01 Ardbeg Distillery

02 Bowmore Distillery

03 Kilchoman Distillery

04 Bunnahabhain Distillery

05 Caol Ila Distillery

06 Bruichladdich Distillery

07 Lagavulin Distillery

08 Laphroaig Distillery

NEW DISTILLERIES 2018

01 Ardnahoe Distillery: First cask filled 09 Nov 2018, will come on line Nov 2021.

Highlands

Stretching from Orkney in the north to the Isle of Arran in the south and Aberdeenshire to the Outer Hebrides east to west, the Highland region is the biggest geographical whisky area in Scotland.

As a result, its whiskies are not easy to categorise. Broadly speaking, they are robust, full-bodied single malts that also embrace individual characteristics depending on the distillery and location. Some are peaty or smoky, and some are powerful, but others, such as those produced at Dalwhinnie, are surprisingly delicate.

Running through the volcanic mountain rock of the Highlands, the water here is some of the purest in Scotland. 

If we contrast the compass points, distilleries in the northern Highlands generally produce whisky with full-bodied, sweet malts with cereal notes; in the south, whiskies tend to be lighter, fruity and dry. Single malts from Aberdeenshire in the east are full-bodied, dry and fruity compared with the western Highlands, which are peated with strong maritime influences.

The distilleries on the islands, although officially not recognised as a sub-region, differ again. Highland Park on Orkney, for instance, is different to most mainland Highland malts because the 4,000-year-old heathery peat used to dry its malted barley gives it a sweet smokiness. 

DISTILLERIES

01 Aberfeldy Distillery

02 Abhainn Dearg Distillery

03 Arbikie Distillery

04 Ardmore Distillery

05 Ardnamurchan Distillery

06 Balblair Distillery

07 Ben Nevis Distillery

08 Blair Athol Distillery

09 Clynelish Distillery

10 Dalmore Distillery

11 Dalwhinnie Distillery

12 Deanston Distillery

13 Edradour Distillery

14 Fettercairn Distillery

15 Glencadam Distillery

16 GlenDronach Distillery

17 Glen Garioch Distillery

18 Glenglassaugh Distillery

19 Glengoyne Distillery

20 Glenmorangie Distillery

21 Glen Ord Distillery

22 Glenturret Distillery

23 Highland Park Distillery

24 Invergordon Distillery

25 Isle of Arran Lochranza Distillery

26 Isle of Harris Distillery

27 Isle of Jura Distillery

28 Loch Lomond Distillery

29 Macduff Distillery

30 Oban Distillery

31 Pulteney Distillery

32 Royal Brackla Distillery

33 Royal Lochnagar Distillery

34 Scapa Distillery

35 Strathearn Distillery

36 Talisker Distillery

37 Teaninich Distillery

38 Tobermory Distillery

39 Tomatin Distillery

40 Tullibardine Distillery

41 Wolfburn Distillery

NEW DISTILLERIES 2017

01 Dornoch Distillery Co.

02 Isle of Raasay Distillery

03 Lagg Distillery

04 Ncn'ean Distillery

05 Torabhaig Distillery

06 Toulvaddie Distillery

07 Twin River Distillery

Speyside

Speyside is home to some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery and lush landscapes, as well as roughly half of the country's distilleries. It is located in the magical Highlands, east of Inverness, and reaches from the glittering Moray coastline down towards the Cairngorms National Park.

The region takes its name from the River Spey, and most of its distilleries are in the beautiful surrounding glens.The rich supply of pure water and beautiful inland setting help to produce smooth and complex whiskies that provide an elegant contrast to the salty and heavily peated whiskies from other regions. Speyside whiskies are characterised by sweet and fruity notes, ranging from ripe pears to sultanas. Hints of nuts and malt are common, and some also possess a refined smokiness.

In Speyside you're never far from a distillery. From small-scale producers who handcraft whisky using traditional methods to some of the most famous distilleries in the world, it is the perfect place to learn about the art of whisky creation.

DISTILLERIES

01 Aberlour Distillery

02 Allt-a-bhainne Distillery

03 Auchroisk Distillery

04 Aultmore Distillery

05 Ballindalloch Distillery

06 Balmenach Distillery

07 Balvenie Distillery

08 BenRiach Distillery

09 Benrinnes Distillery

10 Benromach Distillery

11 Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) Distillery

12 Cardhu Distillery

13 Cragganmore Distillery

14 Craigellachie Distillery

15 Dailuaine Distillery

16 Dallas Dhu : Historic Distillery

17 Dalmunach Distillery

18 Dufftown Distillery

19 Glenallachie Distillery

20 Glenburgie Distillery

21 Glendullan Distillery

22 Glen Elgin Distillery

23 Glenfarclas Distillery

24 Glenfiddich Distillery

25 Glen Grant Distillery

26 Glen Keith Distillery

27 Glenlossie Distillery

28 The Glenlivet Distillery

29 Glen Moray Distillery

30 Glen Spey Distillery

31 Glentauchers Distillery

32 Glenrothes Distillery

33 Inchgower Distillery

34 Kininvie Distillery

35 Knockando Distillery

36 Knockdhu Distillery

37 Linkwood Distillery

38 Longmorn Distillery

39 Macallan Distillery

40 Mannochmore Distillery

41 Miltonduff Distillery

42 Mortlach Distillery

43 Roseisle Distillery

44 Speyburn Distillery

45 Speyside Distillery

46 Strathisla Distillery

47 Strathmill Distillery

48 Tamdhu Distillery

49 Tamnavulin Distillery

50 Tomintoul Distillery

51 Tormore Distillery

NEW DISTILLERIES

01 Inchdairnie Distillery: First output single malt due in 2022-23, for a Macduff blend.

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