Speyside
Speyside whisky
Scotland's densest, most decorated distilling region.
Clustered around the River Spey in the northeast, Speyside packs in roughly half of all of Scotland's malt distilleries — the highest concentration anywhere in the world. It is the region most people meet first, and the one that defines the classic single-malt style in many drinkers' minds.
The house style leans elegant and approachable: orchard fruit, honey, malt and vanilla, often layered with sherry-cask richness of dried fruit and spice. From the light, floral end to the deep sherry bombs, Speyside spans a huge range while staying, at heart, refined.
What Speyside whisky tastes like
Apple, pear and honey; malty sweetness, vanilla oak, and — when sherry casks are involved — raisin, fig and warm spice. Rarely smoky.
Where to start
The Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 12 are the classic entry points; Aberlour and Glenfarclas show the richer, sherried side of the region.
Speyside distilleries (46)
- Aberlour
- Allt-a-Bhainne
- Auchroisk
- Aultmore
- Balvenie
- Benriach
- Benrinnes
- Braeval
- Cardhu
- Cragganmore
- Craigellachie
- Dailuaine
- Dufftown
- Glen Elgin
- Glen Grant
- Glen Keith
- Glen Moray
- Glen Spey
- Glenburgie
- Glendullan
- Glenfarclas
- Glenfiddich
- Glenglassaugh
- Glenlivet
- Glenlossie
- Glenrothes
- Glentauchers
- Inchgower
- Kininvie
- Knockando
- Knockdhu (anCnoc)
- Linkwood
- Macallan
- Macduff (Glen Deveron)
- Mannochmore
- Miltonduff
- Mortlach
- Roseisle
- Speyburn
- Speyside (distillery)
- Strathisla
- Strathmill
- Tamdhu
- Tamnavulin
- Tomintoul
- Tormore
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