Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland. In the English-speaking world, it is often referred to as "Scotch", including in the United Kingdom, although there the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified.

Whisky Regions

Scotland was traditionally divided into four regions: The Highlands, Lowland, Islay, and Campbeltown.

Speyside, encompassing the Spey river valley, in north-east Scotland, once considered part of the Highlands, has almost half of the total number of distilleries in Scotland within its geographic boundaries, and subsequently, is officially recognized as a region unto itself.

Campbeltown, was removed as a region several years ago, yet was recently reinstated as a recognized production region.

The Islands is not recognized as a region by the SWA (Scotch Whisky Association) and is instead considered part of the Highlands region.

• Lowland — only three distilleries remain in operation: Auchentoshan, Bladnoch, and Glenkinchie.
• Speyside — has the largest number of distilleries, which includes: Aberlour, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, and The Macallan.
• Highland — some Highland distilleries: Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenmorangie, and Oban.
• The Islands – an unrecognized sub-region includes all of the whisky producing islands (but excludes Islay) Arran, Jura, Mull, Orkney, and Skye — with their respective distilleries: Arran, Isle of Jura, Tobermory, Highland Park and Scapa, and Talisker.
• Campbeltown — once home to over thirty distilleries, currently has only three distilleries operating: Glengyle, Glen Scotia, and Springbank.
• Islay (pronounced eye-luh) — has eight producing distilleries: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig. A new small distillery Kilchoman, has recently begun production, but is not yet selling whisky.

Types of Scotch Whisky

There are two major categories, single and blended. Single means that all of the product is from a single distillery, while Blended means that the product is composed of whiskies from two or more distilleries.

• Single Malt Whisky is a 100% malted barley whisky from one distillery.
• Single Grain Whisky is a grain whisky from one distillery (it does not have to be made from a single type of grain).
• Vatted or Blended Malt Whisky is a malt whisky created by mixing single malt whiskies from more than one distillery.
• Blended Grain Whisky is a whisky created by mixing grain whiskies from more than one distillery.
• Blended Scotch Whisky is a mixture of single malt whisky and grain whisky, usually from multiple distilleries.