The History of Scotch Whisky
Where did the name Whisky come from? The Latin aqua vitae (water of life) from which came the Gaelic “usage beathea” (pronounced weshka bay) became “usky” the Whisky in English. First written record of production of uisage breatha (water of life, eau-de-vie, in Gaelic) dates back to 1494, but its origin is much older.
Scotland has internationally protected the term Scotch. For a Whisky to be labelled Scotch it has to be produced in Scotland. Other excellent whiskies are produced in other countries, but they are not Scotch.
Whisky Regions
Campbeltown Whisky Region
With just three working distilleries, Campbeltown is Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region. While some argue this doesn’t warrant it being designated a whisky region, its single
Highland Whisky Region
Stretching from Orkney in the north to the Isle of Arran in the south and Aberdeenshire to the Outer Hebrides east to west, the Highland
Island Whisky Region
There are five undisputed Scotch whisky regions: Speyside, Highlands & Islands, Lowlands, Islay, and Campbeltown. The Islands are often considered a region on its own,
Islay Whisky Region
The small, remote Scottish island of Islay (pronounced ‘eye-lah’) is an antique land. A wild and untamed place, where Celtic monks found refuge from raiding
Lowland Whisky Region
With miles of farmland and neat woodlands, the Lowlands is one of the most charming and accessible whisky regions in Scotland. Encompassing Edinburgh, Glasgow and
Speyside Whisky Region
There are over 120 active distilleries spread across Scotland, which are split into five whisky-producing regions; Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. Where a whisky is
Whisky Distilleries
Ardbeg Distillery
For over 200 years, Ardbeg has been made on the small, remote Scottish Isle of Islay. Ardbeg Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery in Ardbeg
Balblair Distillery
The Balblair distillery in Scotland, established in 1790, is noted as being one of the oldest working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. It has, for
Bruichladdich Distillery
Bruichladdich is an award-winning distillery employing generations of distilling knowledge and the principle of minimal intervention. Built in 1881 on the wild Scottish island of
Elementor #1491
A Loch Lomond Distillery was first established in Arrochar in 1814, but closed three years later. The present business was established in 1964 by the
GlenAllachie Distillery
In October 2017, Billy Walker, Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson came together to purchase the GlenAllachie Distillery. Before acquiring GlenAllachie, the spirit was predominantly used
Highland Park Distillery
Early in the 9th century, when Viking longboats were leaving the shores of Denmark and Norway to navigate uncharted waters in search of new lands
Expressions
Abelour 12 Year
Steeped in centuries of legend and surrounded by the dramatic Highland scenery of Ben Rinnes, the village of Aberlour lies at the very heart of
Aberlour A’Bunadh, Cask Strength. Speyside Whisky
With each batch specially crafted, Aberlour A’bunadh is a unique cask strength whisky that has achieved cult status among whisky connoisseurs. Meaning ‘the original’ in
anCnoc 12 Years
The story of the Knockdhu distillery starts with a man of vision (who also had an eye for a good investment). In 1892 an enterprising
Ardbeg 19 Year Traigh Bhan
Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest
Ardbeg AN OA
Ardbeg An OA is named after the Mull of Oa on the Kildalton coast in the south west of Islay. Where Ardbeg distillery is situated,
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Corryvreckan takes its name from the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay, where only the bravest souls dare to venture. Swirling