Speyside Malt Whisky. Where is Speyside and what makes its whisky so special?

Speyside is a “protected region” for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation. The Speyside region includes the area between the Highlands to the west, Aberdeenshire in the east and extending north to the Cairngorms National Park. Generally thought of as an area around the River Spey from Aviemore in the south up to Craigellachie in the north. However the region is probably best known as the ‘home of Malt Whisky’. With the highest concentration of distilleries anywhere in the world (approximately 50, but growing) and it currently produces about half of Scotland’s whisky.

Speyside malt whisky consists of three simple ingredients, water, malted barley and yeast. But it’s the way those ingredients are used that makes each distilleries whiskies unique. Be it the type of malted barley, the water or the yeast. That combined with the fermentation time, the distillation process and finally the skill and experience of each distilleries master distiller and master blender that make Speyside Malt Whisky what it is.

All Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilleries still use local burns or springs, including Glenfiddich who bought the land where the Robbie Dhu spring  provides their water source. Or The Glenlivet who use Josie’s Well as their water source. Each and every distillery is different and that is what makes each whisky distilled in Speyside individual.

A Speyside guided tour will allow you to taste some of the many different whiskies on offer without worrying about driving. Calum is always willing to help you understand the region’s whiskies and explain about some of our amazing countryside and scenery, be it lochs, glens, castles and much more.

Simply Speyside Tours has a lot more to share and we’ll keep you up to date with things. However we appreciate your time taken to read this blog, and please watch out for further blogs about our adventures.

Sláinte

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