Speyside Whisky

Where Whisky is made is crucial to how it tastes, whisky made on the Islands differs from the Highlands. Speyside whisky is famous and some might argue best. The area of Speyside has the oldest distilleries in the world and produce a gentle, fruity malt whisky. Ask anyone in India, China, the USA, Norway, Germany, Australia, in fact anywhere in the world that knows of Scotch, and they will show their appreciation of the malts from Speyside.

There are so many Distilleries on Speyside and it’s difficult to list them all and know where to start. Local to Aviemore is the Dalwhinnie Distillery, a remote distillery producing a gentle spirit. It is a five star visitor attraction and well worth a visit.

Glenlivet Distillery just north of Aviemore is my personal favourite and is the first licensed distillery in Scotland. Two hundred years on and it produces a smooth and balanced malt whisky so please go and try it and they do an excellent lunch too!

The malt whisky trail (https://maltwhiskytrail.com/) can guide you as to which distilleries to visit, they list nine on the trail. Some worth pointing out are Strathisla, which has a newly refurbished visitors centre and is possibly the most beautiful and oldest working distillery in Scotland. Cardhu is a soft and sweet whisky which is a best seller in France and Spain and was founded by a woman in 1811, well worth a visit today.

The one with my favourite name is the Knockando distillery but it’s unfortunatlely not open to the public but you will still be able to taste it on a tour along the way. It is worth checking days and times the distilleries are open and planning your route.

So how do you decide which one to visit and which one is your favourite, well you have to have a wee dram to taste them all to decide and there are a lot – Slàinte Mhath (Pronounced Slanj-a-va) meaning good health and is used instead of cheers in Scotland.