Speyside single malt originates from the north-eastern corner of the Scottish Highlands. The largest Speyside distilleries, like Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, and Macallan, rank among the most successful in the world, hailing from the region at the center of single malt scotch.Once you’ve given the standbys a taste, take the road (or river) less traveled to … As of 2018, there were 133 Scotch whisky distilleries operating in Scotland.. All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley. For the Scotch whisky enthusiast, Speyside has much to offer. This organization is purely geographic rather than stylistic. Scotch Whisky Regions. The taster's literary descriptions of Scotches were turned intoa numerical database (109 Scotches x 68 binary variables). Islay vs. Speyside Scotch. ... Peatiness is a measurable characteristic and often calculated as parts per million (PPM) of phenol. Prior to this, it was a sub-region that was considered part of the Highlands. Speyside distillery Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The two best-selling single malt whiskies in the world, The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich, come from Speyside. Due to the sheer volume of distilleries, there's a huge amount of difference in the character of Speyside Scotch, from lighter grassy numbers, to the sweeter, richer, sherried type. Without a specific distillery name, the big selling point was the $90 price tag for a 25-year old Scotch. [12], In addition to providing jobs and income for barley farmers and distillery employees in the region, whisky production has helped improve tourism. Not surprisingly, these whiskies feature varying degrees of smoke and peat. [1] Dufftown alone has six working distilleries with an annual capacity of 40.4 million litres of spirit. A speyside whisky is a whisky that has been distilled and bottled in a certain part of Scotland called Strathspey. Nonetheless, there are a number of distillers that produce peated expressions in Speyside. Good examples include Cardhu, Cragganmore, Glen Elgin, and Glendullan. Speyside distilleries and their characteristics. Good examples of this style include Knockando, Glenlivet, and Glen Spey. Speyside is a 'sub-region' of the Scottish Highlands, named as such due to the large number of Scotch whisky distilleries in a comparatively small area. Although peat is found in Speyside and has been used there from time to time, its use in the local whisky industry had largely died out long ago. Themes The most densely populated Whisky region in the world, famous for fertile glens and, of course, the River Spey. This style of Scotch whisky is more typical of the western islands and the Highlands than it is of Speyside. Copyright 2021 - The Whiskey Wash   -  Designed by Thrive Speyside whisky: dé favoriet van menig Schotse whisky liefhebber. The three are also the most popular Scotch whisky brands in the United States. Kirkland Speyside Single Malt 25 Year is another Costco Scotch independently bottled by Alexander Murray & Co. Logisch als je bedenkt dat de meest vooraanstaande single malts van heel Schotland hier vandaan komen. | Powered by WordPress, An Introduction to Scotch Whisky: The Speyside Region. Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Section 10: Locality and region geographical indications, https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/glenlivet-single-malt/, A Look Inside Aberlour's Scotch Operation, PM urged to confront Trump over US tariffs on scotch whisky, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/12/cut-duty-scotch-whisky-raise-industry-spirits-association, https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/record-growth-for-scotch-whisky-tourism-in-2017/, Scotch whisky distilleries draw 'record' visitor numbers, Speyside Whisky Distilleries Open to the Public, GreaterSpeyside.com - all things Speyside, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Speyside_single_malt&oldid=999390949, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2020, Articles to be expanded from November 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 January 2021, at 23:01. Those that are aged in sherry casks, with age, inhale and absorb the deep-rooted flavor remaining in that wood, and mature to deliver a range of dried fruit and savory spice flavors. ... Peated Scotch Single Malts from the Speyside. Graham Nicolson, group buying director, Aldi Scotland said: “We’re very proud that our Glen Marnoch 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt has been recognised as one of the top whiskies in this years’ Scotch Whisky Masters. There are six whisky regions: Highlands, Lowland, Speyside, Islands, Campbeltown and Islay. He declared it his favorite whisky. +44 (0)131 555 2929 All of the following encourage visits:[22]. Balvenie and Glenfiddich, for example, are adjoining distilleries both owned by William Grant & Sons and both using the same water source, yet they produce two very different whiskies. The most densely populated of all Scotland’s whisky regions, Speyside plays host to more than half of all active distilleries. Spey River is a collection of some of the finest Single Malt Scotch Whiskies from the renowned Speyside region of Scotland known for its combination of refined flavour, aroma and excellence. The King instructed his Royal Chamberlin, Lord Conyngham, to secure a supply. Aberlour a'Bunadh Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Highlands - Speyside, Scotland: Whisky - Whiskey Malt: 2,112 th: 91 $ 94 The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, Scotland Other notable distillers with this house style include Linkwood, see especially the Signatory specialty bottlings, and BenRiach’s Pedro Ximenex expression. Scotch whisky is divided into two distinct categories: blended and single malt.It is the single malt Scotch whiskeys that made the country famous and where you'll find some of the best whisky in the world.Not all offer the bold smoky, peaty taste that scotch is known for and there are five (or six) regions within Scotland that produce different styles, each with unique characteristics. In some cases, the proportion of sherried malt is increased in older expressions to produce a more pronounced sherry influence (Glenfiddich, Abelour). Speyside is a region in the East of Scotland that was recently recognised by the Scottish Whisky Association (SWA). The long lasting length is both mellow and warming. Fruit flavors emphasize dried fruits and nuts, typically with pronounced sherry notes. Shop now. The whisky-making process here is taken at a relaxed pace. See for example BenRiach’s Curiositas, Benromach, Tomuntoul’s Old Balatruan, or the Ardmore Traditional Cask expression. The 10 Best Speyside Whisky 23/06/2020. Speyside single malts are single malt Scotch whiskies, distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland. It is not entirely clear whose whisky the King tasted. The Speyside region was the source of the first Scotch whisky boom. However, most people would typically recognise Speyside Scotch for its two primary styles. [13] All regions of that produce Scotch Whisky benefit, of course; the Scotch Whisky Association estimated in 2019 that whisky tourism in Scotland generates £68.3 million per year. A typical Speyside style, the Glen Marnoch Speyside is sweet an rounded with flavours of vanilla, okiness and malty notes. [6] According to one source, the top five[clarification needed] are The Macallan, Glenfiddich, Aberlour, Glenfarclas and Balvenie. Speyside’s lack of accessibility, at least until the mid-nineteenth century railroad boom, had the added benefit of keeping the “gaugers,” the whisky excise tax collectors, a comfortable distance away. Let's get into the review. The best way to understand Speyside and its 50 odd distilleries is to organize them into four broad groupings: These whiskies are crisp and fragrant. Our coopers still using traditional methods and tools maintain, repair and re-char the American Bourbon oak casks used for the maturation process of this Single Malt. The distilleries in the region spanning the area of the River Spey in Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey are protected under UK government legislation for Scotch … In addition to those single malts sold under the distilleries' names, brands associated with Speyside include Allt-á-Bhainne, Casg Annamh, Glen Turner, Lismore, McClelland's Single Malt, and Tlàth. In August 1822, King George IV made a highly publicized trip to Edinburgh. The result is a light style. [8] The water in the area is said to have "the lowest level of dissolved minerals" of any area in Scotland, and that may affect the taste of its whiskies. Characteristics which represent the most famous whisky-producing area of Speyside. We've put together a list of some of our favorite peated Speyside scotches. The King’s passion for Scotch whisky from the Highlands, and from the Speyside district of Glen Livet in particular, created a national awareness of the superior quality of Highland whiskies. See for example BenRiach’s Curiositas, Benromach, Tomuntoul’s Old Balatruan, or the Ardmore Traditional Cask expression. Speyside whiskies are typically light and grassy or rich and sweet. & G. Grant and William Grant & Sons and by The Edrington Group (majority owned by a charitable trust). The lush, fertile valley of the River Spey is undoubtedly the heart of single malt whisky distilling in Scotland. Speyside. Maar hoe weet je nu welke bij je past? (srs) – Briangotts – Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported. Here you will find Scotland’s largest concentration of distilleries, over half of the overall number found across the country. At the time there were no licensed distilleries in the area. Speyside's product comes from the 50 distilleries, over half of the country's total number of Scotch producers. Firstly, there is the light, sweet and honeyed single malts of distilleries such as The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich (which are the two best-selling single malt whiskies in the world). Speyside whiskies are the best selling and most well known of all Scotch whiskies. They will often feature ripe, crisp, green fruit flavors of apples and pears with floral aromas and a hint of sweetness. Strathspey has the greatest number of distilleries of any of the whisky producing areas of Scotland. These malts are noted in general for their elegance and complexity, sometimes with a refined smokiness but more often a fruitiness ranging from ripe pears to sultanas. In fact, there are 84 working distilleries in Speyside, including the world's most famous and popular: Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan. The fruit flavors are softer, more overripe, bordering on baked or cooked. The Glenlivet 12 Year makes a great introduction to the world of single malt scotch and is surprisingly affordable at less than $50. These whiskies are beautifully balanced between sweet, honey, light caramel notes and floral aromas, but on occasion can even exhibit a pronounced smoky character. [4], Illicit distilleries were common in the 1800s, but eventually, licences became available after the passing of the 1823 Excise Act. Speyside Whisky Characteristics Speyside whiskies are usually lighter and sweeter than other Scotch single malts. Ardbeg is often considered the most peaty of all Scotch, including the Islays, and is a produce of Glenmorangie, which is a distillery better known for its own namesake Scotch distilled in the Highland region. Speyside. The region’s water has the lowest level of dissolved minerals of any region in Scotland. While there, he discovered the illicit whisky being produced in the district of Glen Livet in Speyside. Each offers a different perspective on Scotch Whisky. Speyside whiskies showcase classic flavors of honey, vanilla, and ripe green fruits like apples and pears, combining to create whiskies that are both sophisticated and elegant. ), or by the whisky-producing district where they are located: Bogie, Livet, Deveron, Dufftown, Fiddich, Findhorn Valley, Inverness, Isla, Lossie, Rothes, and Strathisla. It accounts for more than 60% of Scotland’s single malt production. If you think that Islay holds the monopoly on peated single malt whiskies, think again. Speyside single malts are just as able to get peaty with it. If you have not yet read our article about Scotch and its features , we suggest reading it before continue. by Stephanie Moreno. A first classificationwas produced by distance computation and hierarchical clustering. George Smith was the first licensee in Speyside, in 1824, and his small operation at Upper Drumin in the Glen Livet valley eventually grew into the massive Glenlivet enterprise.[5]. Although the Speyside region is geographically part of the Highlands, it is considered a separate region because of its unique characteristics. Buy Speyside scotch today. It’s not uncommon for adjoining distilleries to offer radically different whiskies. Speyside peat tends to be drier, earthy, and more floral, like a faded potpourri rather than the marine, phenolic iodine of Islay and the western Highlands. The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso Cask or Nadurra First Fill Oak Cask expressions would not belong in this category. The Speyside distilleries are often sorted by specifying the river they are near (Spey, Bogie, Deveron, Findhorn, etc. Speyside Speyside, the undisputed center for whisky in Scotland, boasts the highest concentration of distilleries (more than half the distilleries in Scotland are located in Speyside). Fruit, spicy, oak, malt, honey, vanilla and nutmeg are all characteristics of Speyside whisky. [14] The Association also stated that the industry supported 40,000 jobs and accounted for over £4 billion in exports for Scotland; the specific benefits for Speyside were not provided. Hotels and others with tourism businesses then benefit. Although there is a characteristic sweet, fruity, floral, Speyside “style,” the house styles of the different distilleries in the same area can vary dramatically. They have a substantial mouth feel and weight on the palate. There are five Scotch Whisky regions - Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. 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