The Big Map of Scotch Whisky
04 Sep 2018
Many countries produce whisky, but Scotch can only be made in
Scotland and by definition must be distilled and matured - in
Scotland - for a minimum of 3 years. Scotch Whisky has been made
for more than 500 years and uses just a few natural raw materials -
water, cereals, and yeast.
Scotland is home to around 128 malt and grain distilleries,
making it the greatest concentration in the world. Many of the
Scotch Whisky distilleries featured on this map bottle some of
their production for sale as Single Malt (ie, the product of one
distillery) or Single Grain Whisky.
However, the majority of all Scotch Whisky is consumed as
Blended Scotch Whisky. This means as many as 50 of the different
Single Malt and Single Grain Whiskies are blended together,
ensuring that the individual Scotch Whiskies harmonise with one
another and the quality and flavour of each individual blend
remains consistent down the years.
Malt whisky is usually classified in one of five main categories
- Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown - according
to the geographical location of the distillery in which it is made.
In many ways, the geography and climate of each region influences
the character of the whisky produced there.
A copy of the World of Scotch
Whisky map is available here to view or download - please
note that this is provided for personal use only and is not to be
reproduced under copyright law.