Highlands whiskies

The Highlands are Scotland’s largest region: they stretch from the outskirts of Glasgow and Perth to Thurso, on the north coast, and from Aberdeen to the west coast. With such a large territory it is impossible to speak of a single style, and its distilleries include light, floral malts, sherry-rich ones and some smoky ones. Here you’ll find houses such as Glenmorangie, The Dalmore, Oban and GlenDronach.

In the catalogue
78 whiskies
Distilleries and brands
27
Most common type
Single malt
Peated
7 of 78

History, style and where to startIts distilleries on the world map

78 whiskies

Guide to Highlands

History

In the Highlands whisky was distilled in almost every glen, and after the 1823 act many distilleries came out of hiding. The Highland Line, drawn at the end of the 18th century to levy different taxes in the north and the south, is the origin of the regional division used today. Inland distilleries supplied the blends for generations, while coastal ones, such as Old Pulteney and Oban, grew up beside the harbours. Some, like Glenmorangie, bet on single malt and pioneered finishing whisky in wine casks.

What the law says

The Highlands are one of the five regions protected by the 2009 Scotch Whisky Regulations, alongside Speyside, the Lowlands, Islay and Campbeltown. A whisky may only state it on the label if it has been distilled entirely there. Legally it includes the islands, except Islay, although by custom they are usually treated separately.

Style and flavour

In the north you find whiskies with fruit, honey and a touch of wax or salt, such as Clynelish, Balblair and Old Pulteney, alongside richer malts like The Dalmore. The east gives robust, spicy whiskies, sometimes heavily sherried, like GlenDronach, and Ardmore keeps to peat, which in the 19th century was common throughout the region. The south, close to the Lowlands, produces smoother malts such as Glengoyne and Deanston.

Average flavour profile of the 78 Highlands whiskies in the catalogue

Sweet
3.0
Fresh fruit
2.5
Ripe and dried fruit
1.8
Floral and herbal
1.1
Cereal and malt
1.6
Vanilla and creamy
1.9
Oak
1.8
Spicy
1.8
Toasted
1.6
Smoky
0.4
Maritime
0.3
Body and intensity
2.6

Where to start

Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old is the friendliest way in: light, citrusy and with vanilla. If you’re after sherry, GlenDronach 12 Year Old is a benchmark. To taste the coastal character, Oban 14 Year Old combines fruit, salt and a touch of smoke. That way three whiskies show you how varied the region is.

This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors.

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