Scotch Whisky regions Flashcards
when was the origins of regionality in scotch whisky
The wash act in 1784
What act in 1784 led to regionality amongst scotch whisky
The wash act of 1784
what line was created in 1784 by the wash act
The highland line
what points in Scotland did the highland line run between when it was created by the wash act of 1784
It ran from the first of Clyde on the western coast to the Firth of Tay on the east coast
by what century had Campbeltown been added as its own region
the late 19th century
By the late 19th century what new region of Scotland was referred to as the whisky capital
Campbeltown
When was Islay added as its own whisky region
Around the same time as Campbeltown by the late 19th century
During the 1890s what region overtook Campbeltown in terms of whisky production that was not yet defined as its own region
Speyside
What region wasn’t recognised until the whisky act 1988
Speyside
When was Speyside made its own region
In 1988 due to the whisky act 1988
what’s happened to regional individuality over time
its decreased as there has been more overlap between regions
What are the five official regions of scotch whisky and what is the potential sixth
Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside, Campbeltown and Islay.
The potential sixth is the Islands although these are currently a subcategory of the highlands.
What were the highland distilleries allowed to do due to the wash act of 1784
They were allowed to work smaller stills with weaker washes at a slower rate
In 1979 how was the highland line shifted
An intermediate area was defined [between highland and lowland, and only lasting 2 years] which shifted the highland line so that it ran from Lochgilphead to Findhorn excluding the low ground of angus and Aberdeenshire
In 1979 where did the highland line run to and from and what areas did it exclude
It ran from Lochgilphead to Findhorn and excluded Angus and Aberdeenshire
What is ‘Glenlivet’ a good example of during the formations of regions particularly around the wash act of 1784
It shows how overtime connoisseurs of whisky recognised regionality and Glenlivet became a general term for whiskies from the region that is now referred to as Speyside
All of the northern highland distilleries (except two) are located along what?
The coast, the exceptions to that are Glen Ord and the newly founded Wolfburn [2013]
What are the general and typical characteristics of northern highland whiskies
Due to their close proximity to the coast many are influenced by that are slightly salty. they are also typically complex, medium bodied and sometimes faintly Smokey
Why do most northern highland single malts not benefit too much from full maturation in sherry wood and how is this tackled
They are mostly too delicate to age entirely in sherry wood so instead usually they are finished in sherry wood (If aged in sherry at all)
What technique commonly used by the northern highland distilleries was pioneered at Glenmorangie
Finishing the whiskies in sherry wood casks
When was the high point for the distilleries of the northern highlands
The late 18th century
what fraction of all of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries are in Speyside
2/3rds
how many operational and closed malt distilleries are in Speyside
49 Operational and five that have closed (their spirits still available, and one [Dallas Dhu] said to restart production)
What are some typically characteristics of speyside whiskies
generally sweet and estery and have notes of: parma violets, pear-drops, roses, apples, bananas , cream soda and lemonade.
What three broad bodies to Speyside whiskies fall under
Light, medium and full bodied
Prior to 1824 how many licensed distilleries were there is Speyside and which were they
2, they were Strathisla and Dalvey
Of 16 known farmer distillers [In Speyside] to take advantage of the excise act 1823 how many were successful and are still in operation and what are some of them
9 are still in operation. They are: Arbelour, Cardhu, Glenlivet, Longmorn, Macallan, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Glenburgie and Balmenach
What two main things encouraged development in Speyside in the late 1850s and in 1867
The laying down of a branch line of the great north of Scotland railway and the Speyside railway of Keith to Boat of Garten. (Railways encouraged development put simply)
What shape best describes the Speyside region? How large is it and how can you describe its location geographically?
Its a blunt wedge shape, it is around 50km wide, its apex is in the northern foothills of the Cairngorm mountains, its base the moray firth, its western boundary is the river Findhorn and its eastern boundary
What makes the region of Speyside suited to whisky in particular Laich O’Moray (‘The garden of Scotland’)
it has rich fertile soil, its got an equable climate and longer daylight hours in summer which make it perfect for growing barley. The upland moors that gird the laich also provide an ample supply of peat. Lastly the surrounding mountains made it a more inaccessible area which made it better for distilling
When was Dufftown founded
In 1817 by James Duff
How many distilleries does it have and how many were established before 1886
6, only 1 was established before 1886
When did the first distillery open in Keith
1786
What distilleries are in Keith and which is the oldest
Strathmill, Glen Keith, Alutmore, Glentauchers, Auchroisk and the oldest which is named Strathisla which used to be called Milton
Which is the oldest distillery in Scotland and were is it
Milton, opened in 1786 and was later renamed to strathisla and it is located in Keith
when was the town of Rothes established
1766
When was the first legal distillery built in Rothes and by who?
1840 by John and James grant
What are the four current distilleries in Rothes
Glen grant, Glenrothes, Speyburn and Glen Spey
What is Elgin known as today
The current whisky capital
What distilleries are in Elgin
Glen Moray, Linkwood, Glenlossie, Mannochmore, Benriach, Longmorn and Glen Elgin.
Towards what boundary of the Speyside region is Banff
The eastern boundary
What are Banff’s Distilleries occasionally also referred to as
Deveron malts
What areas does central highlands encompass
Perthshire, part of Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire in the south and part of inverness towards the North
how may the local land of the central highlands be described
Dramatic and mountainous with deep glens, lochs and broad straths
In the past what were the malts from the central highlands commonly referred to as
The Perthshire malts
What are some of the typical characteristics of central highland single malts
they tend to be lighter bodied and sweeter than other highland malts they are also fragrant with blossom, elderflower , heather, honey and spice lastly they also tend to have a drier finish
how many distilleries have been established within the central highland region
128
in the central highlands out of the 128 distilleries there how many were founded prior to 1840
119
today how many distilleries can be described as central highland distilleries and which are they
9, they are: Glenturret, Blair Athol, Aberfeldy, Deanston, Tulibardine, Glengoyne, Edradour, Strathearn and Aberargie
during the 19th century which city emerged as the blending capital
Perth
Why did Perth become the whisky blending capital in the 19th century
it had easy access to the highlands for malt whisky fillings and it had access to the lowlands and its markets
What are some of the big blenders that were set up in Perth in the 19th century when it became the blending capital
Dewars, Bells and Gloag’s, RB Smith & Co, Peter Thompson and CC Stuart Ltd
In terms of the highland line where does the east highlands region fall around it and how has that changed
It falls almost entirely below the highland line as of the Act of 1797 however it used to fall inside it when the original Wash act of 1784 was in place
What areas are contained in the east highlands region
The old counties of Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire
What are the typical characteristics of eastern highland malts
they tend to be medium to full bodied, smooth and sweetish, dry on the finish, Sometimes malty and slightly smoky, sometimes fudge or toffee like with citrus, ginger and spice
What kind of cask maturation is of the most benefit typically to eastern highland malts
Sherry casks
how many distilleries in total were known to exist in the North east highlands
76
between 1825 and 1830 after the 1823 excise act how many distilleries were established in the North-east highland region
36
How many recorded whisky producers have there been in the western highlands and what time were most established before
28, most were established before 1830
Why were so many distillers from the recorded 28 in the west highlands not licensed
Policing the remote area would have been near impossible and its likely the farm distillers supplied magistrates keeping them in good books. in addition to this difficulties transporting over sea increased cost as did the cost of importing barley etc due to lack of fertile area
what are the only two distilleries that remain in the western highlands region excluding Campbeltown
Ben Nevis and Oban
How was Campbeltown a good region for whisky making
it was remote and further away from centres of government and it also had abundant supplies of barley and peat
By 1974 how many known illicit distillers were there in the Campbeltown region and how many were there in the surrounding region
22 in the town with another 10 in the surrounding countryside
Before 1823 how many legal distilleries were there in Campbeltown
3
Between 1823 and 1834 how many distilleries in Campbeltown registered for licenses
27
In 1824 how many litres of spirit were the 25 or so distilleries of Campbeltown producing
around 3.5 million litres
The slump of the depression around 1920s closed all of Campbeltown’s distilleries excluding how many
3
What are the three remaining distilleries of Campbeltown
Springbank, Glengyle and glen scotia
What is the typical character of Island malt whiskies
They are noticeably peaty in most cases albeit less so than Islay whiskies and they have a peppery finish (Arran is an exception to this)
How old is the earliest reference to distilling on the Islands and where are they found
1609 in the statutes of Iona were it states that Islanders were allowed to distil but not import
what are the principle villages of islay
Bowmore and Port Ellen
how many distilleries were registered to have existed in the 19th century
21
How many distilleries are there currently on Islay
9
what are the two groups/ categories of islay whisky and which distillery falls between them
North and Southern and Bowmore is in the middle
which of the distilleries on Islay still do their own floor maltings
Laphroaig, Bowmore and Kilchoman
what sort of stills did the lowland distillers use around 1784 during the time of the wash act 1784
Large, wide and shallow stills that allowed for rapid distillation but made for a less flavoursome spirit
what kind of character did lowland whiskies typically produce in the 1780s
Spirits of a lighter character especially compared to the highlands
how many known lowland distilleries are there that have been recorded
215
when was the earliest lowland distillery founded
1741
what kind of whisky was predominantly produced in the lowlands from the late 18th century to the 1850s
Grain whisky
in the 1920s how many operating malt distilleries were there in the lowlands
13
by 1930 how many of the 13 malt distilleries in the lowlands had closed
6
