Scottish whiskies are among the world’s most revered spirits. There are varying styles, though all can be delectable masterworks in their own right. Some are flavoured heavily by peat and smoke, others are light and fruity. Coastal whiskies are often flavoured by the sea and a refined salinity can be found. There is always a sweetness; sometimes in omnipresence, sometimes lurking in the substrata.
There are regional distinctions in Scotch whisky much like the wine appellations of France. The robust, aromatic clarets of Bordeaux can be paralleled with the pungent, powered single malts from the Highlands. The sweet, fragrant, floral whites of Alsace are comparable with the gentle, fruity expressions from the Lowlands. The profusion of Scotch distilleries is such that it is difficult, and unwise, to make broad generalisations. To truly master the subject, one must first embark on a lifetime’s journey - a journey of knowledge, history and experience.