
This is the most famous of the whisky producing regions in Scotland and the most economically sound as well. The region gets its name from the River Spey, although the Deveron and Lossie also empty into the Moray Firth. There are more distilleries situated around the towns of Elgin, Rothes, Keith and Dufftown than anywhere else in Scotland. The whiskies produced in the Speyside region are so diverse that one cannot simply describe them as a uniformed style.
|
aberlour 10 year old - established pre 1826 |
|
|
The rich history of aberlour is entrenched in the full flavour of this true speyside malt, light in sherry, sharp spiciness with a fresh mouth feel and an enjoyable finish. |
|
an cnoc 12 year old - built in 1894 |
|
|
Originally known as knockandhu, a light nose, fruity and clean on the palate with a finish that is fresh and carries fresh herbs. |
|
benriach 10 year old - built in the 1890s |
|
|
The distillery is located just south of elgin, the first official bottling as a single malt was in 1994 a contributor of chivas regal - a touch of butterscotch, very flowery & well defined. |
|
cardhu 12 year old - established in 1824 |
|
|
Located in the hills near the spey, light to medium in flavour with a malty sweetness. This single malt is the heart of the johnnie walker blends. |
|
cragganmore - founded in 1869 |
|
This distillery can be found at the junction of the spey & avon rivers. |
| |
cragganmore 12 year old |
|
| |
A very delicate, very clean and unrestrained malt with a huge range of herbal and flowery notes and a long finish. |
|
| |
cragganmore 1984 |
|
| |
Double distilled in port casks adds succulent deep notes to this great speyside malt. |
|
|
drumguish 3 year old - opened in 1993 |
|
|
This youngster has a hint of peat with a twang and has potential as a more mature malt. |
|
glen keith 10 year old - established in 1957 |
|
|
This is one of scotland's newest distillery named after the town of keith. The first bottling, 1994, has a dry suggestion of fresh wood, pleasant, light & fruity. |
|
the glenfarclas distillery - founded in 1836 |
|
The small spring that provides water to the distillery is fed from the melting snows. The distilled spirit is aged in Spanish Olorosso sherry casks giving the whisky a slight sweetness. |
| |
glenfarclas 105 cask strength |
|
| |
This cask strength malt is 8 - 10 years old, a dessert malt with a sweet powerful flavour of butterscotch and toffee, although young & youthful it is very powerful and sweet. |
|
| |
glenfarclas 12 year old |
|
| |
A full rich, malty flavour with a long spicy finish. |
|
|
the glendronach distillery - founded in 1826 |
|
Located east of the more densely populated speyside region in the most picturesque area of speyside. This gem was mothballed after 170 years of production, but hopefully not forever. |
| |
the glendronach traditional 12 year old |
|
| |
A touch of oak, malt & heather, there is a predominance of sherry with an almost thick feel on the palate and carries a long spicy finish. This bottling is no longer in production. |
|
| |
the glendronach 15 year old |
|
| |
The 15 year old bottling is heavier in peat but still loaded with sherry. |
|
|
glen garioch - established in 1797 |
|
One of scotlands oldest distilleries. |
| |
glen garioch 8 year old |
|
| |
A young whisky similar to it's older brethren, needs a couple more years. |
|
| |
glen garioch 1987 |
|
| |
A dry and peaty nose, with a touch of sherry on the palate. It is lightly smoked and peaty a hint of sweetness with a similar yet lighter finish. |
|
| |
glen garioch 15 year old |
|
| |
Very aromatic, with rich smoky peat, syrupy notes and a very long spicy finish. |
|
|
the glenlivet - licensed in 1824 |
|
located on the river livet, The most famous speyside malt. |
| |
the glenlivet 12 year old |
|
| |
This malt is flowery and peachy with notes of vanilla and a long gentle warm finish. |
|
| |
the glenlivet 18 year old |
|
| |
If you're a glenlivet fan this one will surely be a treat with flowery sherry sweetness, very smooth with a touch of nuttiness and a long light finish. |
|
|
glen moray 12 year old - established in 1897 |
|
|
The distillery was formerly a brewery, well balanced, light and malty with a fresh barley flavour, the finish is quick and clean. |
|
glen ord 12 year old - established in 1838 |
|
|
Built on the clan McKenzie estate and bearing the clan's motto "I shine not burn" this bottling is light, smooth and tasty with a hint of peat and sherry, very different from it's origin. |
|
glenrothes |
|
Built in 1878 on the banks of the river Spey in the heart of the highlands. These malts feed the famous grouse and cutty sark blends. |
| |
1984 Vintage |
|
| |
This vintage bottling is 11 years old and is very rich in sherry, a nice mouthfeel, and a rich full finish. This malt feeds the famous grouse and Cutty Sark blends. |
|
| |
1987 Vintage |
|
| |
The 1987 bottling is very similar to the 1984, rich in sherry, a nice mouthfeel, and a rich full finish. |
|
|
knockando - established 1898 |
|
|
The distillery is on the shores of the spey south of rothe, soft, creamy & fresh with a light cream & toffee finish. |
|
longmorn 15 year old - founded 1894 |
|
|
This gem is located in the northern speyside region, the longmorn is one of the greatest speyside malts, from its big bouquet, long smooth finish. The name aptly fits the finish. |
|
loch dhu 10 year old - established in 1971 |
|
|
From the mannochmore distillery "the black whisky" united distillers hold the secret to it's dark colour, the nose is flat with an almost carmelized taste and a short finish, this is a very unique whisky. |
|
singleton of auchroisk - bottled in 1983 |
|
|
Located west of keith, the singleton was launched as a bottled malt in 1986 with flavours of licorice, aniseed, toffee and sherry with a lightly smoky background. |
|
speyburn 10 year old - built in 1897 |
|
|
Located in a deep sweeping valley on the road between rothes & elgin, lightly malty developing fresh herbed heathery tones with a fresh very sweet finish. |
|
strathilsa 12 year old - built around 1786 |
|
|
Located just north of keith, strathilsa is the oldest known distillery, in the 13th century dominican monks used a spring nearby for brewing, the water is hard with scarcely any peat, a very unique freshness of oak & sherry with a very smooth long finish with vanilla & chocolate. |
|
tamdhu 10 year old - founded 1896 |
|
|
Located in the heart of speyside between knockando and cardhu this one is quite malty on the nose and palate with a mellow finish similar to an irish malt. |
|
Tamnavulin 12 year old - established in 1966 |
|
|
This was a previously mothballed speyside distillery now producing a golden whisky aged in oak casks, the nose is very light with a nice mouthfeel and a short finish. |
|