Whisky guides

Why we have Scotch whisky regions

This is a short history of the Scotch whisky regions, one that will explain why they were created and what they mean.

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Why do we have Scotch whisky regions?
The Highlands and Lowlands
Taxes and whisky
The era of blends
Build your own
Speyside, trains, and Glenlivet
Single malt and the big five
Setting the five regions in stone

Author:

Adam O'Connell, writer at Master of Malt
Reading time: 5 minutes

Our guide to the five Scotch whisky regions & the Islands

Why do we have Scotch whisky regions?

The Highlands and Lowlands

A map of the Scotch whisky regions

The Scotch whisky regions. Image credit: The Scotch Whisky Association.

Death, taxes, and whisky

The era of blends

Campbeltown

Whisky was so distinct from areas like Campbeltown the region itself became defined

Speyside, trains and Glenlivet

Single malt and the big five

Barrels maturing in Speyside

Whisky is made all over Scotland and we love each and every region!

Setting the five regions in stone

Whisky from every Scotch whisky region

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