Scotch Regions Flashcards

1
Q

What legislation drew a notional line called the “Highland Line”

A

the Wash Act of 1784

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2
Q

Where did Wash Act of 1784 draw the higland line from west to east?

A

Firth of Clyde on the West to the Firth of Tay on the East

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3
Q

What region did the blenders add to the notion of whisky regions in the late 19th century?

A

Campbeltown

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4
Q

What regions did the blenders add to the notion of whisky regions in the late 19th century?

A

Campbeltown and Islay

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5
Q

What was the “whisky capital” of the late 19th c?

A

Campbeltown

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6
Q

What legislation legally recognized Speyside as a region?

A

Whiksy Act of 1988

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7
Q

During the 1890’s the ____ region took over from ____ as the leading production district

A

Speyside
Campbeltown

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8
Q

The Glenlivet parish is located in what area of Scotland that is now a national park?

A

Cairngorm mountains

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9
Q

Describe the typical Highland whisky flavor profile

A

Higher quality, more complex

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10
Q

Describe the typical flavor profile of North Highland whiskys

A

complex
mediium-bodied
sometimes smoky or salty

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11
Q

Do north highland whikys frequently use sherrywood for maturation? For finishing?

A

No, the northern malts are too delicate to benefit from full maturation in sherry-wood, but they do use it for finishing often for the last year or so.

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12
Q

What city is the capital of the Highlands?

A

Inverness

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13
Q

When was the high point for distilling in Northern Scotland?

A

Late 18th c

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14
Q

What region is recognized as the heartland of whisky production in modern times?

A

Speyside

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15
Q

Describe the flavor profile of Speyside malt whiskys

A

Generally sweet
high estery notes (pear, acetone, fruit)
most complex and sophisticated
usually unpeated
some smoke from barley

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16
Q

What are the three broad styles of Speyside whiskys? Which favors maturation in European oak?

A

light, medium and full bodied

Full bodied favors European oak

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17
Q

How many distillers in Speyside took advantage of the 1824 Excised Act and how many of those are in operation today

A

16 known distilleries
9 are known today: Aberlour, Cardhu, The Glenlivet, Longorm, Macallan, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Glenburgie, Balmenach

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18
Q

What are the boundaries of the wedge-shaped Speyside region? How large is it?

A

apex: in Cairngorm Mountains
base: Moray Firth
west: River Findhorn
east: River Deveron

32km (17mi) deep by 50km (27mi) wide

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19
Q

What river bisects the Speyside region? How many distilleries draw water from it?

A

the River Spey
no distilleries draw from it

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20
Q

What is the fastest running river in Scotland?

A

the River Spey

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21
Q

What 3 reasons did the Speyside region rise to such prominence and success?

A
  1. rich and fertile soils that run deep in the alluvial plane and northern enough that there are long hours of daylight in the summer months. Perfect barley growing.
  2. upland moors provided peat supply
  3. Mountains on the southern border provided protection for illicit distillers
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22
Q

Describe the geology of the Glenliver region.

A

Many deposits of limestone under each field which increases the water alkalinity and hardness

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23
Q

How many distilleries use the “glen” suffix in their name?

A

~25

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24
Q

What are 7 subregions of Speyside?

A

Glenlivet
Strathspey
Dufftown
Keith
Rothes
Elgin
Banff

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25
Q

What speyside burgh is recognized as the whisky capital of today?

A

The Royal Burgh of Elgin

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26
Q

What subregions comprise the Central Highlands?

A

Perthshire. part of Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire (south), and part of Inverness-shire (north(

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27
Q

What is the largest river in Scotland? What whisky region is it located in?

A

the River Tay
Central Highlands

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28
Q

Describe the flavor profile of Central Highland whiskys

A

light bodied
sweeter (compared to other highlands besides speysides)
fragrant, floral, honey, spice
drier finish (like highlands)

29
Q

What is the “Blending capital” of Scotland? Why?

A

Perth

On the River Tay it has easy access to the highlands for fillings and easy access to the lowland markets.

30
Q

Who are/were the major blending houses located in Perth?

A

Dewar’s, Bells, and Gloag’s

31
Q

Today whisky distilleries are second only to what as favorite tourist attractions?

A

castles

32
Q

What counties are embraced in the Eastern Highlands?

A

Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire

33
Q

Describe the flavor profiles of Eastern Highland malts

A

medium - full bodied
smooth
sweetish
recognizable dry highland finish
malty
slightly smoky

34
Q

Do east highland malts benefit from maturation in sherry-wood?

A

Yes

35
Q

Why weren’t there many large scale distilleries in the remote western highlands?

A
  1. policing was difficult and uncommon
  2. small barley crops (high rainfall & low fertility) and and would need to import fuel
36
Q

The two surviving distilleries on the west coast today are located where?

A

rail-heads

37
Q

Who founded Campbeltown in 1609?

A

Archibald Campbell, Seventh Early of Argyll

38
Q

Campbeltown is located on the southern tip of what peninsula?

A

Kintyre

39
Q

What two reasons was Campbeltown well-suited for whisky production?

A
  1. They were far from government and policing
  2. They had abundant supplies of peat and barley
40
Q

When was Campbeltown at its peak?

A

Early to mid 19th c.

41
Q

During the latter decades of the 19th c blenders favored the lighter more fragrant malts of ____ over the heavier product of ____.

A

Speyside
Campbeltown

42
Q

Which whisky region enjoyed a high reputation among bootleggers during Prohibition?

A

Campbeltown

43
Q

What might have contributed to Campbeltown’s demise?

A

The increase in demand from the US during and around the time of Prohibition.

44
Q

Describe the flavor profile of Campbeltown malts

A

TRICKY/Differs
strength and body of islays
most manly of whiskys

45
Q

Describe the flavor of Island malts

A

noticeably peaty (but less than Islay)
peppery finish

46
Q

What Island is slightly different than the others in its flavor profile? What are its notes?

A

The Isle of Arran (between Ayrshire and Kintyre).

It’s sweeter and more floral than the other islands.

47
Q

When was the earliest records reference to distilling in the Islands?

A

the Statues of Iona in 1609 which allowed islanders to distill, but not import aqua vitae

48
Q

What liqueur is based off a secret recipe given to Captain John Mackinnon of Elgol by Bonnie Prince Charlie?

A

Drambuie

49
Q

What islands have 1-2 distilleries?

A

1 each: Jura, Mull, Harris, Lewis and Raasy
2 each: Orkney, Skye, Arran

50
Q

Generally it is difficult to grow barley on the islands with the exception of which three islands?

A

Lewis, Tiree, and Orkney

51
Q

Which region is most likely the cradle of distilling in Scotland?

A

Islay

52
Q

How far is Islay from the Irish mainland?

A

20 km / 11 mi

53
Q

What family(s) allegedly brought distilling to Scotland in the 1300?

A

MacBeatha or MacVey were distillers arrived on Kintyre in 1300 with the train of people for an irish princess to marry Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay.

54
Q

How large is the island of Islay?

A

40km (21.6 mi) long from E to W and 32 km (17.3 mi) broad.

55
Q

What two lochs divide Islay from northwest and southeast sub regions?

A

Loch Indaal and Loch Gruinard

56
Q

What is the most fertile of the Western Isles?

A

Islay

57
Q

The island of Islay enjoys a higher than average amount of ____.

A

Sunshine

58
Q

What portion of Islay’s surface is peat?

A

1/4 of it

59
Q

What are the two principal villages on Islay?

A

Bowmore (est. 1760s) and Port Ellen (est. 1824)

60
Q

Daniel Campbell of Shawfield bought Islay in 1727 for how much?

A

9000 lbs

61
Q

Describe the flavor profile of Islay malts

A

smokiness (peatiness)

62
Q

Where do Islay distilleries buy their malt

A

Port Ellen Maltings

63
Q

What parish and 4 distilleries in it are home to the smokiest malts?

A

Kidalton Parish

Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Port Ellen

64
Q

The Highlands of Scotland finish suddenly north of the ____ Plain and west of the rich farmland of ____.

A

Stirling
Aberdeenshire

65
Q

What region is/was the cradle of Scottish Industry?

A

The Central Lowlands

66
Q

Which region often used mixed mashes of grains other than malted barley?

A

The Lowlands

67
Q

Describe the flavor profile of Lowland malts

A

light in color and weight
dry finish
low aromatics
grassy, green, herbal
grainy and floral notes
usually unpeated malt

68
Q

What kind of flavor can lowland malts impart on blends?

A

brandy-like flavors?