TOBERMORY, SCOTLAND - JULY 21: Traditional drams of whisky for members of the Chieftain's Parade at the start of Tobermory highland games, on July 21, 2022, in Tobermory, Scotland.  (Photo by Ken Jack/Getty Images)
Food - Drink
These Are The Main Regions Of Scotland That Produce Scotch
By MEGGAN ROBINSON
Not all bottles of Scotch whisky are the same — or even similar — just because they're made in Scotland. Many regions of the country have their own unique whisky, and the question of which is the best can invoke heated disputes; here are the biggest whisky-producing areas in Scotland, so you can sample a bottle from every region.
In 1905, the UK government distinguished five Scotch-producing regions: Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown, and Islay. The 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations demoted Campbeltown and Islay to mere "locations," but most whisky enthusiasts still use "region" as a generic term to refer to any of the original five areas.
Highland is the largest Scotch-producing area, and Highland scotches are known for being elegant and fruity, but also have the most variation within their region. The Speyside region contains the most distilleries, and citizens age their whisky in Sherry casks, which impart notes of vanilla, honey, apple, pear, and spice.
Lowland distilleries produce the lightest whisky, and were once known for triple-distilling their Scotch, but Auchentoshan is the only producer that still does so. Islay's Scotch is deep, brooding, and seriously smoky, while Campbeltown was once called "the whisky capital of the world," and their bottles carry notes of coastal salinity and toffee.