Whisky Regions Explained
Duncan Reid, Master Curator · 8 min read
Speyside, Islay, Highlands, Kentucky, Hokkaido and beyond — a map of the world in a glass.
Scotland's five regions
Speyside for orchard fruit and honey; Islay for peat and brine; Highlands for range and richness; Lowlands for light, grassy elegance; Campbeltown for oily, briny complexity.
Ireland and America
Ireland's signature is single pot still — a mash of malted and unmalted barley. America splits between corn-led bourbon, spicy rye and charcoal-mellowed Tennessee whiskey.
Japan and the new world
Japan pairs Scottish technique with mizunara oak and extreme precision. Meanwhile Taiwan, India, Australia and Sweden are producing world-beating whisky at accelerated maturation rates.
Share this guide
Bottles to put the theory into practice
Speyside · Scotland
The Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak
18 Years · 43% ABV · 700ml
Kentucky · USA
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
8 Years · 45% ABV · 750ml
Keep reading
Getting Started
Fundamentals
Tasting