Speyside single malt

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.

Whisky producing regions of Scotland

The two best-selling single malt whiskies in the world, The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich, come from Speyside. Strathspey has the greatest number of distilleries of any of the whisky producing areas of Scotland.[1] Dufftown alone has six working distilleries with an annual capacity of 40.4 million litres of spirit.[2]

Further information: Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009

Speyside is a "protected region" for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation.[3] According to Visit Scotland, this region includes the area between the Highlands to the west, Aberdeenshire in the east and extending north to the Cairngorms National Park.[4]

The distilleries
Glenlivet Distillery
Balvenie Distillery (2007)

Illicit distilleries were common in the 1800s, but eventually, licenses became available after the passing of the 1823 Excise Act. George Smith was the first licencee in Speyside, in 1824, and his small operation at Upper Drumin in the Glen Livet valley eventually grew into the massive Glenlivet enterprise.[5]

Today, the major distilleries in the region are owned by leading international drinks groups including Diageo, LVMH and Pernod Ricard, by family-owned companies including J. & G. Grant and William Grant & Sons and by The Edrington Group (majority owned by a charitable trust).

Roughly 50 percent of Scotland's whisky is made here in the approximately 50 distilleries located in this region.[6] According to one source, the top five are The Macallan, Glenfiddich, Aberlour, Glenfarclas and Balvenie.[7]

Glenfiddich (2005)

This dry, warm, region is a natural for whisky distillers because it is close to barley farms, contains the River Spey and is close to the Atlantic port of Garmouth.[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. Another report explains that "quartzite at the source keeps high levels of minerals from mixing with the water".[9][10]

The Visit Scotland web site indicates that the region's whiskies have a fruity nature "ranging from ripe pears to sultanas" and some exhibit "sweet, caramel and fruity notes".[11] Another review states that the use of peat is not common here, so many of the whiskies are not "smoky"; the article concluded that "typically, most Speyside whisky is fruity, sweet, and nutty, featuring notes of apple, honey, vanilla, and spice".[12]

Benefits to the region

In addition to providing jobs and income for barley farmers and distillery employees in the region, whisky production has helped improve tourism. Hotels and others with tourism businesses then benefit.[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.[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.[15][16]

The region hosts an annual whisky festival known as "Spirit of Speyside".[17][18]

The Malt Whisky Trail Map

Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail is a tourism initiative featuring seven working Speyside distilleries, a historic distillery (Dallas Dhu, now a museum) and the Speyside Cooperage. A 2012 BBC article recommends a leisurely tour, taking a day or two at each distillery to appreciate the local "traditions and lore".[19] In 2017, tourism in the Moray Speyside area increased significantly, by 50,000 visitors, primarily because of the appeal of the Malt Whisky Trail in the region.[20] A Trail rep stated (in summer 2019) that 60% of tourists to Speyside visit at least one distillery.[21]

In addition to those on the Trail, some other distilleries also have visitor centres. All of the following encourage visits:[22]

  • Glenlivet
  • Benromach
  • Strathisla
  • Cardhu
  • Glen Grant
  • Glen Moray
  • Ben Riach
  • Macallan
  • Glenfiddich
  • Balvenie
  • Aberlour
  • Glenfarclas
  • Ballindalloch
  • Cragganmore

List of Speyside distilleries

Closed Speyside distilleries

Other brands

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.

See also

References
  1. Scotland Info
  2. ScotchWhisky.com : DUFFTOWN, Gavin D Smith, 1 September 2016
  3. Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Section 10: Locality and region geographical indications
  4. Speyside Distilleries
  5. https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/glenlivet-single-malt/ The Glenlivet – The Single Malt That Started It All
  6. Speyside distilleries
  9. Speyside Glenlivet
  10. Exploring The World Of Speyside Whiskies
  11. Whiskey Producers in Speyside
  13. A Look Inside Aberlour's Scotch Operation
  14. Whisky Tourism Facts and Insights
  15. PM urged to confront Trump over US tariffs on scotch whisky
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/12/cut-duty-scotch-whisky-raise-industry-spirits-association Cut duty on Scotch whisky to raise industry spirits, say distillers]
  17. Spirit of Speyside
  18. Whisky Festival
  20. https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/record-growth-for-scotch-whisky-tourism-in-2017/ Record growth for Scotch whisky tourism in 2017]
  21. Scotch whisky distilleries draw 'record' visitor numbers
  22. Speyside Whisky Distilleries Open to the Public

Further reading
  • Barnard, Alfred (2008) [1887]. The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 978-1-84158-652-6.
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