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In the Speyside region of Scotland, you will find deep, fruity single malts. Strongly smoky Scotch whiskies are the exception here. The classics Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet and Aberlour are ideal for beginners. But Speyside also has the right answers for fans of powerful flavours, cask spice and strong fruity notes with Craigellachie, Glenfarclas and Mortlach. Exceptions prove the rule and so you can enjoy the smoky side of Speyside at Benromach. For a delicious round trip through Speyside, simply order the ❤️ Tasting Selection Speyside Whisky. Here you can compare the different distilleries in 5 samples of classic Speyside single malts.

The Speyside: In the heart of whisky glory

The Speyside region in the north-east Highlands is the heartland of Scotch Malt Whisky. Around 50 active whisky distilleries can be found along the River Spey and its tributaries such as Livet, Fiddich and Deveron. The big Single Malt Scotch Whiskies cavort around the small towns of Craigellachie, Aberlour and Dufftown. Here you will find the distilleries where The Macallan, Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, The Glenlivet, Aberlour, Glen Grant, Cardhu, Cragganmore and Glenfarclas are made. Many distilleries here produce single malt solely for the blend industry. Many large Blended Scotch Whisky brands such as Grant's, Chivas Regal, Ballantine's or the blended malt Scotch Monkey Shoulder also have their home here.

But it's not just the many local distilleries that make Speyside the heart of the world of whisky and single malt Scotch production. Cooperages, malthouses, independent bottlers and dealers are also at home here. Independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail is based in Elgin. Whisky casks for numerous distilleries are reworked at the famous Speyside Cooperage. And the world-famous pot stills coppersmith Forsyths produces the coveted stills in small Rothes, which form the heart of every malt whisky distillery.

Speyside is geographically part of the Highlands but is considered a separate whisky region. Roughly encompassing the traditional counties of Morayshire and Banffshire, the area stretches from Grantown-on-Spey in the south-west all the way up to Banff where the River Deveron meets the North Sea.
The distilleries are often tightly packed here, like pearls on a string. The so-called Malt whisky Trail, a route popular with tourists, connects eight well-known distilleries and the Speyside Cooperage. A true Eldorado for whisky lovers.

How does Speyside whisky taste?

"Elegant" and "complex" - these are frequently used words when describing Speyside single malt whiskys. But how exactly do you have to imagine that? One could perhaps say that an abundance of aromas can be found in the malts - fruity, spicy, floral and sweet notes, sometimes also hints of smoke, leather and wood - but none of these facets is dominant. Speyside single malts are complex. The body is mostly full and round without appearing bulky. The whiskys are usually little or not at all peated, which is why you will hardly find heavily smoky whiskies here, such as with Islay whiskies. In short: Speyside malts are everything. Except one-sided.

Tasting tips: Speyside classics

Speyside is home to so many big names that it's hard to know where to start and where to stop. The soft and fruity single malts from Glen Grant and Glenfiddich are ideal beginner whiskies. Both have a lot to offer for a mostly low price. The fact that some bottlings of these brands are also available in supermarkets makes many whisky fans hesitate. But these distilleries offer depth and complexity once you venture into the range.
In the Speyside region you can't avoid the honey-sweet The Balvenie and the sherry-heavy Aberlour. The same applies to the single malt that has long been the flagship of the region: The Glenlivet. A must.

Our Speyside insider tips:

Craigellachie is a Speyside malt as it is in the book: full, round, elegant, with notes of citrus fruits and tangerines. Anyone who likes whiskys from the sherry cask must definitely stop by Glenfarclas. Glenfarclas is one of the last family-owned distilleries and the Grant family has been watching over their powerful, spicy-fruity single malt Scotch here for generations.