Collection
Scotland
Buying Scotch whisky at Mood4Whisky means choosing from single malts, blends, and single casks from almost all whisky regions of Scotland. Here you will find smoky Islay whiskies, fruity malts from Speyside, rich Highland whiskies, and quirky bottles from the islands. Distilleries such as Tomatin, Kingsbarns, and Isle of Harris stand alongside independent bottlers like Cadenhead, Duncan Taylor, and Living Souls.
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Scotch whisky covers all four profiles of the M4W Flavor Compass. For Smooth & Fruity , you might look at Speyside bottlings like the Cadenhead Glen Moray 16 YO, for Full & Sweet at the sherry and wine casks of Tomatin, for Spicy & Bold at Isle of Harris The Hearach, and for Smoky & Powerful at Laphroaig, Longrow, and Kingsbarns Coaltown. Want to discover whisky from other countries? Then check Country of origin.
Which Scottish regions are represented in this collection?
Virtually all of them. The Scottish whisky law distinguishes five protected regions: Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown, and all of these are included here. Tomatin and Fettercairn come from the Highlands, Kingsbarns from the Lowlands, GlenAllachie and Linkwood from Speyside, Laphroaig from Islay, and Longrow from Campbeltown. The islands, officially part of the Highlands, are also represented with Isle of Harris and a 20-year-old Orkney whisky from The Uncharted Whisky Co.
When can whisky be called Scotch whisky?
Only if it has been distilled in Scotland from water and malted grain, has matured for at least three years in oak casks in Scotland, and has been bottled at a minimum of 40% alcohol. Nothing other than water and caramel color may be added.Single malt Scotch must also be distilled at a single distillery exclusively from malted barley in pot stills, and since 2012, it must also be bottled in Scotland.
Is Scottish whisky always smoky?
No, most Scottish whisky is not or hardly peated. Smoke is mainly associated with Islay and part of the islands and Campbeltown. Speyside and the Highlands are known for fruity, honey-sweet, or sherry-rich malts, such as the Living Souls Speyburn 18 Year Old and the Tomatin 12 YO Sherry Cask. If you are looking for smoke, choose the Laphroaig bottlings, the Cadenhead Longrow 23 YO, or Kingsbarns Coaltown.
Which Scottish whisky do you choose as a beginner and which as an expert?
For beginners, Compass Box Orchard House, the Uncharted Whisky Co Blue Collection 8 Year Old, and the Tomatin 12 YO Sherry Cask are great choices: accessible, balanced, and reasonably priced.Connoisseurs find their way to the single casks of Cadenhead and Duncan Taylor, with bottlings such as the Cadenhead Fettercairn 19 YO, the Duncan Taylor Octave GlenAllachie 2008, or the rare Duncan Taylor Premium Laphroaig 18 YO 2004.
What makes whisky from the Scottish islands special?
Island whiskies often have a maritime character: briny notes, fresh sea air, and sometimes light smoke. On Harris in the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Harris Distillery in Tarbert produces The Hearach, with sea salt, honey, and a hint of peat. From Orkney comes the Uncharted Whisky Co Orkney 20 Year Old Refill Bourbon, which after twenty years of maturation is particularly rich and sweet. Officially, the islands belong to the Highlands, but they have a distinctly unique style.