Lowland single malts are single malt whiskies distilled in Scotland's lowlands. The region is home to distilleries such as: Annandale in Annan; Auchentoshan near Clydebank; Bladnoch in Galloway; Daftmill in Fife; The Girvan Distilleries near Girvan; and Glenkinchie distillery near Edinburgh.
Several new distilleries have begun to produce new-make spirit in recent years, including Kingsbarns, [1] InchDairnie [2] and Lindores Abbey, all in Fife, [3] and at Ardgowan. [4]
At least six other lowland single malts are still available, but are no longer distilled: Rosebank (currently undergoing revival [5] ), Kinclaith, St. Magdalene, Ladyburn, Inverleven, and Littlemill.
As a region, the Lowlands have been more strongly associated with grain whisky and blended whisky than malt whisky. Blended whisky often uses a high proportion of Lowland malt, as the less intense flavour profile means it does not dominate the other constituent whiskies. [6]
In terms of Lowlands whisky flavour, the character of the malt often comes through strongly, with a soft body, according to another report. [7] Traditionally the barley used has been unpeated, possibly because the Lowlands, East Lothian in particular, had a strong coal-mining industry. [8]
Another review states that most of the region's whiskies tend to be "lighter and grassier" without the "smoky" flavour produced by peat. [9]
However, in recent years lowland distilleries such as Ailsa Bay and Annandale have become characterised by their use of peat, with a flavor profile more typical of Islay whiskey. [10]
According to an August 2019 report, Auchentoshan is the region's only distillery still making whisky that is triple distilled which leads to "an edge of citrus flavour". [11]
The distinction between the Lowlands and the Highlands was originally drawn by the 1784 Wash Act. Highland distilleries were taxed based upon the size of their still; Lowland distilleries were taxed per gallon in the wash. [12] This led to outrage from Lowland distillers over their comparably high duty rates. [13]
Today the term Lowland is a "protected locality" for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation. [14] The modern Lowland–Highland line is drawn by the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 as follows:
"the line [begins] at the North Channel and [runs] along the southern foreshore of the Firth of Clyde to Greenock, and from there to Cardross Station, then eastwards in a straight line to the summit of Earl’s Seat in the Campsie Fells, and then eastwards in a straight line to the Wallace Monument, and from there eastwards along the line of the B998 and A91 roads until the A91 meets the M90 road at Milnathort, and then along the M90 northwards until the Bridge of Earn, and then along the River Earn until its confluence with the River Tay, and then along the southern foreshore of that river and the Firth of Tay until it comes to the North Sea." [15]
This line is distinct from the geological Highland Fault line to the north. If the geological line were used, several Highland distilleries would become Lowland ones, including Loch Lomond and Fettercairn. [16] According to Visit Scotland, the Lowlands region covers "much of the Central Belt and the South of Scotland including Edinburgh & The Lothians, Glasgow & The Clyde Valley, the Kingdom of Fife, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders". There were 18 distilleries in the region as of 2019, including some that opened quite recently, such as Lindores Abbey, Clydeside and Glasgow. [17]
Scotch whisky, often simply called whisky or Scotch, is malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland.
William Grant & Sons Ltd is an independent, family-owned Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is run by Grant's descendants as of 2018. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky distillers remaining in family ownership.
Glengoyne distillery is a whisky distillery continuously in operation since its founding in 1833 at Dumgoyne, north of Glasgow, Scotland. Glengoyne is unique in producing Highland single malt whisky matured in the Lowlands. Located upon the Highland Line, the division between the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland, Glengoyne’s stills are in the Highlands while maturing casks of whisky rest across the road in the Lowlands.
Springbank distillery is a family-owned single malt whisky distillery on the Kintyre Peninsula in western Scotland.
Lindores Abbey was a Tironensian abbey on the outskirts of Newburgh in Fife, Scotland. Now a reduced ruin, it lies on the southern banks of the River Tay, about 1-mile (1.6 km) north of the village of Lindores and is a scheduled ancient monument.
Loch Lomond distillery is a Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky distillery in Alexandria, Scotland, near Loch Lomond.
Rosebank Distillery is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery situated in Camelon on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Auchentoshan distillery is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dalmuir, Scotland.
Tobermory distillery is an Island single malt Scotch whisky distillery located on the Hebridean island of Mull, Scotland in the town of Tobermory
Littlemill distillery was a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire.
Annandale distillery is a whisky distillery producing single malt Scotch whisky in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Daftmill distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located in a converted barn at Daftmill Farm in the Howe of Fife.
Kingsbarns distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located in Kingsbarns, Fife in the Lowlands whisky region in Scotland.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to whisky:
Clydeside distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery in Glasgow, Scotland. When production began in 2017, Clydeside was the first active distillery in Glasgow city centre for over 100 years.
James Sneddon Swan was a chemist, biologist, author, and expert on single malt whisky.
Lindores Abbey distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery in Newburgh in the Lowlands whisky region in Scotland and is directly opposite the Abbey. It started distilling whisky in December 2017, using three stills made by Forsyths of Rothes. Lindores Abbey planned to produce 150,000 litres of spirit per year.
Strathearn is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery near Methven in Scotland.
Inverleven distillery was a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dumbarton, Scotland.
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd. is an independent, family-owned, Scottish concern which produces Scotch whisky and other spirits. Ian MacLeod is based in Broxburn, Scotland. It was founded by Leonard Russell, Snr. in 1933. They own three single malt whisky distilleries: Glengoyne, Tamdhu, and Rosebank. They also produce a number of other distilled spirits including Edinburgh Gin and Smokehead Islay Whisky.