Scotland - the Land of Whiskey
The top 3 whiskey distilling regions in Scotland
Scotland is internationally recognised as a country of whiskey connoisseurs, it has even been labelled the national drink.
This iconic drink is available across the country, though there are five regions in particular that specialise in the delicious liquor.
The Lowlands region
The Lowlands is one of the most accessible of all regions. Located in the south of Scotland, it is only a hundred kilometers away from our DFDS port in Newcastle. This region, comprising 13 distilleries, is the only one in Scotland to practice Triple Distillation. This technique, popular in Ireland, allows you to obtain both sweet and fruity aromas, which earned it the nickname of Lowlands Ladies.
If you are close to Glasgow you should pay a visit to the Auchentoshan distillery where you can enjoy a single malt with delicate notes. And if you are in Edinburgh, The Scotch Whiskey Experience offers you a unique journey.
The Highlands
The Highlands are ideal for those wishing to discover whiskey distilleries while immersing themselves in the beauty of the Scottish countryside.
Home to 41 distilleries, it offers the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of flavours, such as the whiskey produced on the island of Jura or the fruity whiskey from the southern Highlands.
The Speyside
This region hosts the largest number of distilleries in the country and you can easily drive from one end to the other since they are grouped in a small geographical area.
Visiting the Speyside Cooperage, where whiskey barrels are produced, is strongly recommended. Make sure to find out if the Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival is on during your trip, too.
The Campbeltown
This place was formerly nicknamed the ‘World Capital of Whiskey’ because it’s home to over 30 distilleries.
Campeltown is a famous whiskey region as three of its distilleries gather a significant number of visitors annually at the Campbeltown Malts Festival . If you like brassy whiskeys, we invite you to participate in the annual events that take place during the month of May.
Islay Island
To get to Islay Island, you will need to take the Kennacraig Ferry to discover at least one of the 8 local distilleries. Here, you will have the opportunity to taste whiskeys with different characteristics, sometimes smoked and other times with aromas of sea air.
You will also hear all about about the local legend and the origins of whiskey on this island. It is believed that Irish monks were the first ones to introduce the art of distillation to Islay when they saw the opportunity of making a great quality drink thanks to the purity of the water.
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