A guide to the Highlands | Scotch whisky regions

The mighty Highlands is the most geographically large region of them all, stretching from Loch Lomond in the south west to John O’Groats in the north east and beyond to the isles of Arran, Skye, Mull, Jura and Orkney.

We’ve actually separated the islands, even though the Scotch Whisky Association classes them within the Highlands, for reasons we have explained in our guide to Islands. Speyside can also be classified as the Highlands, which is confusing, but we clear that all up in our guide to Speyside.

The Scotch Whisky Regulations of 2009 says The Highlands ‘…means the line beginning at the North Channel and running along the southern foreshore of the Firth of Clyde to Greenock, and from there to Cardross Station, then eastwards in a straight line to the summit of Earl’s Seat in the Campsie Fells, and then eastwards in a straight line to the Wallace Monument, and from there eastwards along the line of the B998 and A91 roads until the A91 meets the M90 road at Milnathort, and then along the M90 northwards until the Bridge of Earn, and then along the River Earn until its confluence with the River Tay, and then along the southern foreshore of that river and the Firth of Tay until it comes to the North Sea.’