Little Green Book

Malt & Grain Whisky
There are two main types of whisky - malt and grain. Malt whisky, which connoisseurs claim has a more sophisticated flavour and bouquet, is made with malted barley. Grain whisky also contains malted barley, with unmalted barley and maize. Both types are used in the whisky blending process. Many of today's leading brands both in Scotland and overseas are blended whiskies made with many different individual distillations - with deluxe blends containing a higher proportion of malt whiskies. Whisky enthusiasts prefer to taste and familiarise themselves with Scotland's prestigious range of 'single malts' which are unblended distillations from individual distilleries.

We've covered the five main single malt regions of Scotland - The Lowlands, The Highlands, Speyside, Islay and Campbeltown - with tasting notes, distilleries to visit and buy from and events around the region for Whisky Month.

The Lowlands

The Lowlands region lies south of an imaginary line drawn from the Clyde estuary to the Tay estuary. It can claim only three working distilleries.

Whiskies from the Lowlands tend to be soft and light in character. They often display very malty, grassy characteristics and subtle delicate aromas. Look out for Glenkinchie, Bladnoch and Auchentoshan.

Search FoodFinds for Whisky Distilleries in the Lowlands

EVENTS IN THE LOWLANDS FOR WHISKY MONTH

Auchentoshan Celebratory Homecoming Tour
Join us at Auchentoshan, Glasgow's malt whisky distillery and home to the number one Lowland Single Malt, for a unique whisky experience, exclusively created to celebrate Homecoming Scotland. This rare Homecoming tour is available throughout May only. All bookings for the tour must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

The Highlands

Moving north of the imaginary line takes us into the Highland region. This includes most of the rest of Scotland, with the exception of the island of Islay and Campbeltown, and thus its malts vary greatly in character.

Generalisations about the Highland region are less valid, as its whiskies will range from dry to sweet and some even have a touch of smoke and peat. Look out for Glenmorangie, Blair Athol and Talisker.

Search FoodFinds for Whisky Distilleries around The Highlands

EVENTS IN THE HIGHLANDS FOR WHISKY MONTH

Glenmorangie Whisky Weekends
Visit the home of Glenmorangie - one of Scotland's finest malt whiskies for a special Whisky Weekend. Two nights at the five-star Glenmorangie House and a fascinating tour of Glenmorangie Distillery. You'll learn how the complex spirit is produced by the 'Sixteen Men of Tain' and matured in oak casks, get a malt whisky tasting and a Highland evening of black-tie dinner and ceilidh. Weekends in May.

Talisker Whisky Evenings at Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle is hosting Talisker whisky tastings on Saturdays throughout May for Whisky Month. You'll taste Skye's most famous Malts served with canapes in the castle's elegant dining room and take a tour of the castle with the curator.

Royal Lochanagar Special Homecoming Tours
On the south side of the River Dee close to Balmoral Castle, Royal Lochnagar's age-old traditions and craftsmanship produce one of Scotland's most exclusive whiskies, a malt worthy of the 'Royal' prefix apparently... Royal Lochnagar are offering a Highland, Island and Speyside Tasting Tour throughout May.

Dewar's World of Whisky
Dewar's Signature Tour gives you the chance to taste some of their rarest whiskies. A warehouse tasting of Aberfeldy Single Malt is direct from the cask, there's personal distillery tours and entry to their Heritage Exhibition. Mondays only by appointment only throughout May.

Speyside

Technically Speyside lies within the Highland region. It is home to approximately half of Scotland's malt whisky distilleries.

This small area of land located to the north west of Aberdeen produces mellow, sweet and particularly fruity malt whiskies. Look out for Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan.

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EVENTS IN SPEYSIDE FOR WHISKY MONTH

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary with a 10-day celebration of whisky-themed events at venues throughout the area. Look out for whisky tours, tastings, food events, walks around the stunning villages of Speyside and the final music festival on the banks of the Spey including pipes, fiddles - the works...

Exclusive Tours of Dufftown, Mortlach & Glendullan Distilleries
At the end of Whisky Month, take a tutored tasting and tour of the three distilleries - they're not normally open to the public but they are open during Spirit of Speyside for exclusive, not-to-be-missed tours.

Islay

Located in the Inner Hebrides, the small island of Islay is often called 'Whisky Island' given its concentration of eight distilleries.

The island produces very distinct malts, generally heavily peated and smoky in taste. Ones to look out for include Bowmore, Ardbeg and Laphroaig.

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EVENTS AROUND ISLAY FOR WHISKY MONTH

Feis Ile - Islay Malt & Music Festival
Whisky Month draws to a close with the ever popular week-long Malt & Music Festival which sees Islay's musicians and distilleries welcoming visitors to celebrate the island's unique heritage. There'll be concerts, ceilidhs, open days at the distilleries and guided walks.

Westering Home to Islay
During 2009 - Homecoming year - Bruichladdach Distillery is offering two weekends in August and September celebrating Gaelic and West Coast's rich culture through music, storytelling and of course whisky distilling.

Campbeltown

The town of Campbeltown was once home to more than 30 distilleries. Today - alas - it is home to just three - Springbank, Glen Gyle and Glen Scotia.

Whiskies from the town tend to have a little peat and salt to them and are generally medium to full bodied. Look out for Springbank and Glen Scotia.

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THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY TRAIL

You can follow The Scotch Malt Whisky Trail through Speyside to seven working distilleries. From Benromach to Dallas Dhu, Glen Moray to Strathisla, home of Chivas Regal; from the Glen Grant distillery to the Speyside Cooperage, Glenfiddich to Glenlivet and Cardhu distillery, the whisky trail leads you through the beautiful Speyside countryside.

THE WHISKY COAST

For centuries whisky and the West Coast of Scotland have been synonymous. Whisky Coast blends the amazing Scottish scenery with the best single malt whisky for an unforgettable experience. Take in 15 distilleries specialising in the West Coast's smokier, peatier blends, perhaps teaming it up with the Scottish Seafood Trail. It culminates in Spirit of the West on 16-17 May in Inveraray Castle, Argyll.

Find Distilleries to visit on the Whisky Coast on FoodFinds

Spencerfield Spirits' Sheep Dip and Pig's Nose whiskies are made on the banks of the Firth of Forth near Fife

More Shops selling Whisky around the UK

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Hebridean Liqueurs produce delicious liqueurs that are less sweet and less strong than traditional brands. Each one comes with its own story to tell.

Summer Isles Foods, a small, family-run smokehouse in Achiltibuie, produces a marinaded, whisky-smoked salmon

The Chocolate Tree, based in East Lothian, producing organic chocolate bars and chocolates made with local ingredients, including whisky

More Whisky-based Food and Drink

Search FoodFinds for Whisky-based Food and Drink Products

Whisky needn't necessarily be just for sipping. Sheila McConachie and Graham Harvey, authors of The Whisky Kitchen, have chosen particular whiskies in the following recipes, contributed from their book

Starters
Partan Bree... Veloute of Haggis Laced with Glenfarclas... Shellfish Broth...

Main Courses
Roast Belly Pork with Crackling, Apples & Onions... Dundee Lamb Chops... Venison Steaks with Wild Mushrooms...

Desserts
The DramBrulee... Roasted Fruits... Chocolate and Orange Mousse

For centuries, the Gaelic-speaking clans produced whisky, in Gaelic 'uisge beatha' 'water of life', long before it became an internationally renowned drink. Now, whisky is one of the most important and characteristic Scottish exports. But to this day, there is still an element of mystery about the making of malt whisky from the simple ingredients of barley, water, yeast and, sometimes, peat smoke.

Slàinte or Cheers! Your good health...
Slàinte means health in Gaelic. Pronounced 'slàntiu' (with the accent in the first syllable and a soft sound at the end), you will hear even non-Gaelic speaking Scots quite often use it as a toast. You might even hear a Gael say 'air do shlàinte' - to your good health'. (If so, you can be sure you're in good company.)

Whisky Etiquette
In Scotland, you'll often find good-natured discussion on the 'best' way to drink whisky - that is, with or without water, or with various mixers. Naturally, there is no absolutely correct way - though many blenders and others within the trade would suggest that the addition of a little water, preferably from a Scottish spring, helps bring out the complex flavour. In fact, if your host offers you a malt whisky (recognisable by a single distillery name eg Glenfiddich, Highland Park, Lagavulin, etc), then it may be tactful to drink it with nothing other than water... A 'dram' or a 'nip' both mean a 'one-person' portion of whisky and the Scots themselves rarely call whisky 'Scotch', a name almost exclusively used by outsiders.

MORE WEBSITES ON SCOTTISH WHISKY

Homecoming Scotland

EatScotland

www.scotchwhisky.net

Wikipedia on Scotch Whisky