The Five Whisky Regions of Scotland

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Жыл бұрын

The Five Whisky Regions of Scotland
Today we are talking about the five Scotch Whisky Regions, Highland, Lowland, Campbeltown, Speyside and Islay and their flavour characteristics.
What is your favourite whisky region in Scotland? Was there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments if there is anything you'd like us to go into more depth on regarding the regions!
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Music: Whiskey on the Mississippi Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
#whiskyregions #highlands #lowlands #speyside #campbeltown #islay #scotchwhisky #whiskeygeeksnotwhiskeysnobs #whiskeygeek #whiskygeeksnotwhiskysnobs #whiskygeek #callander #whiskeyreview #whiskyreview

Пікірлер: 67

@teebbeeis Жыл бұрын

Funny how those of us from certain regions of the southern US have ancestors who brought that “hiding their distilleries” mentality with them. There may have been some whiskey being made back in the hills of southern Tennessee when I was a lil fella.

@WhySoSerious275 Жыл бұрын

Islands really should be there own region I know some people disagree that they are highlands but I’ve always seen them as distinctly separate.

@jtf2dan Жыл бұрын

agreed...and Islay is an island that should be included in that group.

@bdwilcox Жыл бұрын

it was my same thought as she was describing them. I've always heard of them referenced as "they're their own thing but included in this other thing". They really should be designated as their own region.

@mauriciopacheco7987 Жыл бұрын

I was about to ask a similar question. So, as Island are we refering to all small islands in the west coast, like from Isle of Skye going southwest? What about Highland Park? How many distilleries are in the islands?

@WhySoSerious275 Жыл бұрын

@@mauriciopacheco7987 It would be all the islands except for Islay so this would include highland park and would cover around 10 distilleries by my count.

@thewhiskyscribe Жыл бұрын

I 100% agree. It's my favourite region and I think it's because they all have varying levels of salt. Whether you notice or not, it's there, and I have to assume it's the reason why it's the only region where I love every distillery.

@andynelson5864 Жыл бұрын

My favorite region for Scotch whisky is my mouth! I do have my preferences, and I'm super-geekish about them but, really, if what I've bought and am sipping hits all the right notes, then all is good, whether it's from Islay, Campbeltown, etc.

@kevingallagher2344 4 ай бұрын

You are delightful. I was fortunate to visitScotland twice in 2023. One-off my favorite stays was The Isle of Arran. The distillery in Lochranza was closed to tours but the shop /cafe was open. Karen, ran the whiskey room and guided me taste testing what she thought I would like. I came away with a bottle of Aran 10 and Cherry Cask. The whiskey is not pleaty at Lochranza but their sister distillery in Lagg is producing a pleated spirit. Arran is so close to Campbeltown could you talk about those whiskeys. As a sideline Aaron Gold is supposed to be superb. Unfortunately I could not pack a third bottle into my travel bag.

@TheGrailTastings 4 ай бұрын

Thank you!! That sounds like a fantastic trip to Scotland, Lochranza is such a beautiful setting with delicious drams too!! We absolutely love the Arran Sherry cask, so full of flavour! We have a few videos on some Glen Scotias and Springbanks from Campbeltown you can peruse but we can definitely do a Campbeltown deep dive at some point and there's lots of whisky history to delve into!

@peterholmlund9454 Жыл бұрын

My distillery would be named 'Swaithe & Spacey' ❤

@murduk88 Жыл бұрын

Nice, tidy summary right there. And the story of Springbank saving Campbeltown as a region of Scotch whisky is so amazing ... there's no way to love them enough. Cheers, ladies!

@tomgstew Жыл бұрын

More of these videos please! The geekier the better for me as I'm trying to be a whisky (knowledge) sponge 🤓

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

Great! Glad you like! Hopefully more to come then!

@fishsurfer1 Жыл бұрын

Very well done, would love to hear about your favorite natural product distillery ie Springbank etc.... thats doing it with character and tradution in mind. Thanks girls

@SarawakPollster Жыл бұрын

While highland is generally all over the place in terms of profile, I would think a generalized character of Highland to differentiate them from speyside (and the other regions) would be them generally bring quite Malty and full bodied...and typically something with a quite viscous mouth feel. I'm thinking Glen Garoich, Clynelish, Edradour, Glenturret...

@davieislay Жыл бұрын

Barbaric! 😂 Dare you to come out here and say that! 😁👍🥃 xx

@paleggett1897 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic quick tour❣️ Would really enjoy more of these and some a touch more in-depth. Have always preferred a good rye, and have begun exploring scotches 🙏🏽

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

Watch this space!

@benmarnoch4111 Жыл бұрын

I disagree with the three distillery thing to constitute a region. I spoke to one of the lawyers at the SWA a few years back and he said that was nonsense, all Springbank and Glen Scotia had to do was ask, they didn’t need to build a third distillery. I think a region status should only be given if there is definite style. That of course as you say has gone out the window now, with everyone doing peated, and the variety of casks and styles everywhere.

@RaduB. Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't mind finding out more. Either through stories about the regions or through tasting sidenotes. I am yet to discover the Lowlands so I'll withhold my vote for the moment...

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

I think we will try and make this a series!

@bdwilcox Жыл бұрын

My friend distills Scotch in his barn. He built two other barns so the Scotch Whiskey Association gave him his own regional designation. The new region is called Tim.

@peatbull3426 Жыл бұрын

What is Tim's whisky brand name 🤔😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

@bdwilcox Жыл бұрын

@@peatbull3426 His brands are DalTimmy, DeansTim, NoCanDo, OcTimore, Old PulTimmy, The SingleTim (he's divorced), Timdhu, Timnavulin, TomaTim, Timintoul and, of couse, GlenTimothy. The nosing notes are tire warehouse fire, sour milk, a dead squirrel under your front porch on a hot summer's day and Rachel's feet after a trek in overly tight shoes*. The taste could best be described as undrinkable, but the closest approximation I can think of is Laphroaig. * But in a good way, especially for Rachel who has become acclimated to her own foot odor.

@bdwilcox Жыл бұрын

@@peatbull3426 In a subsequently deleted video, Ralfy reviewed his whisky, saying, "I've dealt with less vile liquids in my career as an undertaker". He gave it a Ralfy review score of -81. He didn't give it a lower score because it was still non chill-filtered and had natural color.

@peatbull3426 Жыл бұрын

@@bdwilcox lovely 😅 im novice in whisky world so thats why never heard about them but im Laphi fanboy of its old school dirty side so i guess this is for me 😁👍😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

@peatbull3426 Жыл бұрын

@@bdwilcox such a interesting story. I definitely must buy Ralfy's books for more! Cheers 👍😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

@reneerikolsen9694 Жыл бұрын

Great stuff, you two! Enjoyable Sunday afternoon. Do go more in-depth if you feel inclined to.

@petemcfeet28 Жыл бұрын

Ooooh, fun. A deep dive 5 part series could be even more fun!

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

In the planning!

@neelsengupta662 Жыл бұрын

Nice summary!

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Canadian_Chris Жыл бұрын

You gals know your stuff. Very interesting how the railroad system changed the once industry leading area to two distilleries. Keep the information coming. I am new to Scotch and have only tried Monkey Shoulder(which I did not like). Perhaps giving your advice to a rye and bourbon lover as to what to search for when starting a Scotch whisky journey could be a future video topic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@bdwilcox Жыл бұрын

For a Scotch beginner, I think you would be good with GlenAllachie 12 for Sherry finished (raisins and chocolate), Arran 10 or Glencadam 10 for fruity and citus-y and Port Charlotte 10 for peated (smokey and a little bacon-y). These are generally very affordable, available in most areas and all of them are very high-quality with higher ABV and no chill-filtering. BTW, if peat scares you, I can recommend the Lagavulin 16 for a Scotch with a nice, balanced peat presence though, unfortunately, it is chill-filtered and more expensive (but still one of the best, nonetheless). And if you want a budget Sherry finished Scotch to try, Naked (Grouse) is a wonderful Sherried blend of single malts for only $35 or so. At first, I would avoid the blends like Johnnie Walker, Chivas, Seagram's, Dewar's, Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark since their quality can be all over the place and it's hard to pin down typical Scotch flavors with them. I'm sure others will have their own recommendations.

@Canadian_Chris Жыл бұрын

@@bdwilcox Thank you very much for taking the time to write up so many recommendations.

@aldolajak1267 9 ай бұрын

A few words of caution from my own experience on "starting a Scotch whisky journey". You might not ever return to the path of "rye and bourbon".

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

Fantastic suggestions from bdwilcox as always! Did you try any of them? What did you think?

@simonoliver1174 Жыл бұрын

A very swite review as always girls ❤

@SarawakPollster Жыл бұрын

Quick game for anyone: name a distillery that is most atypical of that region's profile. Highland: Clynelish Speyside: Balvanie Islay: Laphroaig Lowland: Bladnoch Campbeltown: Springbank

@jbar6284 Жыл бұрын

Highland: Glencadam? Speyside: Benromach?

@thewhiskyscribe Жыл бұрын

That's a great question. There are so many different distilleries, it's hard to pick which one is the defining character of that region. I think Islay, and maybe Speyside, are the only regions where most distilleries at least have an entry-level whisky that fits what's considered that region's particular style.

@gareth630 Жыл бұрын

Good to see the brain cells still work girls ;-), good post 🙂

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Just! 😂

@timpowles7514 Жыл бұрын

Nice review, very interesting. Yeah would love a deep dive into the regions you suggested.. Got to tell us more about the barbaric region!! 😂

@okawami Жыл бұрын

Do these regions apply strictly to Single Malt whiskies, or to Single Grains as well? There are a few grain distilleries located in the Lowlands area too, so that would make it more than 3 Lowlanders actually (referring to the Campbeltown story). And I wonder if there is also a certain flavor profile for single grains in the different regions. More in-depth videos are always welcome. Or as an excuse to drink whisky 😇, do a 'blind tasting' with a whisky from each region to "Guess the Region", seems good fun even if you're not getting them right. Haha! Cheers ladies! 🥃

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

I think actually all the grain distilleries apart from one are in the lowland region

@chnelis Жыл бұрын

Just before minute six Jen mentions that there are several really good new lowland distillierys and she proceeds to rattle off several names. I know it is not her excellent and correct pronunciation but rather it is my American tin ear but I can not decipher which houses she is mentioning. Could you please provide a list? Thanks

@jbar6284 Жыл бұрын

The ones they mention: Bladnoch, Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan... Lindores, Lochlea, Eden Mill, Kingsbarns, Daftmill. But there are others.

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

Thank for translating jbar! There are quite a few lowlands now, we'll hopefully get to more of them soon!

@markwilson1377 Жыл бұрын

(off topic) Cute hair, you guys!! Both of you!!

@TheGrailTastings Жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark!

@iangrant5527 Жыл бұрын

Which region would have most references to "Greyfriars Bobby" (rhyming slang) in your tasting notes?

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

need to get back to you on that one....🤣

@jtf2dan Жыл бұрын

I always thought that Island whiskies...such as Highland Park, Talisker, Ledaig....were so similar to Bunnahabhain and Lagavulin of Islay with the salty briny smokey flavours and as they are all islands(even Islay) they should all be classified as Islands whiskies....because the Island whiskies are quite distinct from most Highland whiskies. But that would make sense right?

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

We have long felt that Island's deserve their own region, as you say many share a lot of flavour profiles and are pretty distinct to Highland whiskies. We should petition the SWA!

@andrewmainprice2179 Жыл бұрын

A suggestion would be whisky that are unloved from each region

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

Great idea!

@thedude4718 Жыл бұрын

GLENDRONACH!! WOOOOOOO! GLENDRONACH!!

@TheGrailTastings 5 ай бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@NickVolk Жыл бұрын

My favourite region for whisky is Islay, then comes Speyside and Highlands. That's it. I don't like Lowlands-just not my cup of tea.

@NickVolk Жыл бұрын

Are you girls teachers? (just trying to guess)

@jbar6284 Жыл бұрын

If you look at some of their past vids you'll see pics/explanation of their wee spirits shop called The Grail, originally in Doune and then more latterly in Callander.😊

@NickVolk Жыл бұрын

@@jbar6284 👌👍

@bdwilcox Жыл бұрын

They're teachers in their own way as they host whiskey tastings where they educate people about the spirit. (In addition to the information they share on KZfaq, of course.)

@NickVolk Жыл бұрын

@@bdwilcox Yep Buddy! It's true-in their own way!👌