There are six whisky regions:

• Highlands

• Speyside

• Lowlands

• Campbeltown

• Islay

• Islands

Scotch Whisky can only be made in Scotland

The word ‘Scotch’, as applied to whisky, has retained its geographical significance. This is widely recognised in law throughout the world. Thus, whisky may be described as Scotch Whisky only if it has been wholly distilled and matured in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years.

Other countries obviously make whisky, but “none have the assured wisdom routed in centuries of production, that Scotch owns.” Joel Harrison, Malt Whisky Yearbook 2021

1 – Littlemill Distillery, closed

The Malt Whisky Yearbook says, “Scotland’s oldest working distillery until production stopped in 1992”.  This was located in the Lowlands district and owned, at closing, by Loch Lomond Group. It was opened in 1750 by George Buchanan.

According to whiskey.com, …  ”there is speculation that whisky was distilled upon this site as far back as the 14th century”.  Another important milestone was that it was owned in 1823 by Jane MacGregor, one of the earliest women distillers in Scotland. Some of their product is still available (see below).

2 – Loch Lomond Distillery

Alexandria. Ironically this distillery was opened in 1965 by Littlemill Distillery and not far away from each other, but it’s in the Highlands distillery district.  They offer peated, unpeated and single grain whiskies.  They do not offer tours. This distillery has the remaining Littlemill casks and releases a few hundred bottles a year.

3 – Auchentoshin Distillery

This is a Lowlands district distillery with a broad range of products. Everything is triple distilled, and it is the only distillery that does this for its entire line.  They have an excellent visitor center and offer tours, with up to 20,000 visitors a year.

4 – Glengoyne Distillery

This is a Highlands district distillery and also has a wide selection of products, including a 50-year old. This distillery has the longest distillation of any Scotch whisky.  They offer several tours that are interesting and educational, for which they received a Gold award.

Single malt versus blended whisky

Whisky is made by steeping barley and other grains in water and then mashing, fermenting and distilling it. The quality of the pure Scottish water is important, which is why Scottish scotch is considered to be so good.

Single malt whisky exclusively use barley. Most single malt drinkers are under the assumption that they are drinking one single whisky that comes from one barrel. The reality is that the whisky is coming from one single distillery, where various barrels are married together to make the final blend.

Malt whisky has to be distilled in pot stills. In the past, it was difficult to maintain consistency of single malt whisky from batch to batch due to subtleties in the barley, barrels and temperature.

Blended scotch whisky refers to the type of grains being used to produce it (and may contain corn, rye and even wheat). Furthermore the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 state: “Blended Scotch Whisky means a blend of one or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies.” Mixing these together in various proportions is how you get such diversity in whisky flavor.

Blending whisky allows for the use of cheaper grains, and does not require the same amount of time to age. This allows a distiller to produce a blended whisky faster, and for less money. As a result, the demand for blended whisky is higher, despite the fact that the single malts have an obvious flavor advantage.

Grain whisky is usually made in column stills. By blending grains and product from other distilleries blenders were able to maintain quality and consistency.

Buchanan’s may be best known for their blended whiskies.  

James Buchanan, a pioneer in the scotch business (later to become Sir James Buchanan, first baron of Woolavington), started producing Buchanan Blend in 1884. This blend used scotches aged at least 12 years.  There were several name changes and several product developments over time.  

The Buchanan’s portfolio today includes:

Our famous poet Robert Burns had some events with whisky. He was an exciseman (tax collector). This would not have been popular because, like the American distilling of moonshine, the whisky business was not always regulated, and when government saw money in it, they wanted taxes. Fortunately, he survived this.  Being fond of the amber dew, he wrote a few poems to whisky. One is called Scotch Drink.  To read this you need a wee dram yourself (to get your mind around the old Scots language) - but you can.  Spare the ice.