The Beginner’s Guide to Scotch Whisky

Scotch whisky carries with it the story of Scotland. Crafted for centuries and shaped by time-honoured tradition, it has earned a devoted following and a reputation that extends across the globe. Yet for beginners, venturing into the world of Scotch whisky for the first time can feel a little overwhelming – and it’s hard to know exactly where to begin.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at all aspects of Scotch whisky for beginners - the origins, the types, and the regions. We’ll discover how Scotch whisky is made, how it’s matured in casks and what it tastes like. Plus, we’ll recommend six Scotch whiskies for you to try on the first steps of your journey, all perfect for beginners.

Let’s dive in.

What are the Early Origins of Scotch Whisky?

Whisky, originally known as ‘uisce beatha’ - meaning ‘water of life’ - was first documented in Scotland in the 1494 Exchequer Rolls. The entry mentioned an order for “Eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor wherewith to make aqua vitae.” Aqua vitae is Latin for ‘water of life’, the direct translation of ‘uisce beatha’. Over time ‘uisce beatha’ was shortened to ‘usky’, which eventually became the word ‘whisky’.

In the following centuries, whisky was made primarily by Highland farmers as a way to preserve excess barley crops. Whisky became deeply embedded into Scottish life, with production spreading across the Highlands where it was produced in barns or bothies by anyone who could learn the art of distilling whisky and was willing to make it.

What are the types of Scotch Whisky?

There are five distinct types of Scotch whisky.

Single Malt Whisky

Probably the best-known of all of the Scotch whiskies, single malt whisky is made from 100% malted barley in copper stills and is the product of just one single distillery.

Single Grain Whisky

Single grain whisky is the product of one single distillery and is made from malted barley and grains, such as wheat, corn, and rye. It is usually distilled in a continuous still.

Blended Whisky

Blended whisky is made by combining single malt whisky with grain whisky.

Blended Malt Whisky

Blended malt whisky is made by blending two or more single malt whiskies.

Blended Grain Whisky

Blended grain whisky is a blend of grain whiskies sourced from multiple distilleries.

What are the Scotch Whisky Regions?

There are five distinct regions - Highland, Lowland, Campbeltown, Islay, and Speyside, plus one unofficial region – The Islands. These regions exist because of historical, geographical, and cultural factors that have influenced the production styles and flavour profiles of the whisky over the centuries.

Highland

One of the best-known whisky-making regions, the Highland region is arguably the most diverse, stretching from just north of Glasgow right up to Thurso (except for the Speyside Region).

Flavour Profile

The Highland whiskies tend to have a wide variation of flavour profiles from heather, honey, malt and oak, to heavily sherried expressions, and peaty smokiness

Distilleries

Well known distilleries in the Highland region include Glenmorangie, The Dalmore and The Glenturret.

Lowland

Large by geographical area, but small in terms of malt distillery numbers, the Lowland region spans from Glasgow down through the central belt of Scotland, reaching east to Fife and extending south to the Scottish Borders.

Flavour Profile

Lowland whiskies tend to have a gentle light, grassy and floral flavour profile with notes of honey, citrus, and caramel.

Distilleries

Well known distilleries include Auchentoshan, Annandale and Lochlea.

Campbeltown

The smallest of the regions, Campbeltown is based in the sheltered harborside town of Campbeltown at the southernmost tip of the Kintyre peninsula.

Flavour Profile

Campbeltown whiskies are known for their rich, complex flavours, sometimes featuring salty, maritime notes, subtle smokiness, and a distinctive oily mechanical note, known colloquially as the Campbeltown ‘funk’.

Distilleries

The only distilleries are Glen Scotia, Springbank and Glengyle.

Islay

The Islay region is based on one small island in the Hebrides - the island of Islay. The region, made up of around 13 distilleries, is world renowned for producing smoky, peated whiskies.

Flavour Profile

Islay whiskies tend to have a flavour profile that can be described as smoky, earthy, and often medicinal.

Distilleries

Well known distilleries include Ardbeg, Bowmore and Lagavulin.

Speyside

Speyside has the largest concentration of whisky distilleries. Tucked into a small, lush corner of northeast Scotland, dominated by the mighty River Spey, it produces over a third of Scotland’s single malt Scotch whisky.

Flavour Profile

Speyside whiskies tend to have a particularly elegant, fruity flavour profile which includes notes of apple, pear, honey and vanilla. Sherry butts are also commonly used for maturing or finishing whisky, so often you’ll find notes of dried fruit, nuts and spice.

Distilleries

Well known distilleries include Macallan, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet.

The Islands

The unofficial sixth region. The Islands region covers a large geographical area, from the Isle of Arran in the southwest, all the way up to windswept Orkney in the northeast.

Flavour Profile

The island distilleries produce single malt whiskies that are often peaty with a touch of coastal salinity.

Distilleries

Well known distilleries include Talisker, Tobermory and Highland Park.

How is Scotch Whisky Made?

All Scotch whisky starts with barley, whether it’s malt whisky or grain whisky. The grain is malted, meaning that the germination phase is started, and then halted by drying it with a kiln.

The barley is milled into grist (a coarse grain flour) before mashing with water into a sugary liquid called wort. The wort is fermented for two to three days and then distilled twice – first in a wash still and then in a spirit still - to produce a clear ‘new make spirit’.

For grain whisky, the grains are precooked before undertaking the same production process as malted barley, but distillation usually takes place in a continuous still.

Peated Whisky

Peated whisky is made in the same way, except that at the malting stage, the barley is dried in a kiln layered with peat which produces aromatic phenols that stick to the barley husks. The result is a whisky with a distinctly smoky taste and aroma.

Maturation

Once produced, the ‘new make spirit’ is filled into oak casks and transferred to a warehouse to begin the maturation phase. All Scotch whisky is required by law to be matured for the minimum of three years, although in reality, whisky is usually matured for much longer.

Age Statements

Scotch whisky is often labelled with an age (or age statement as it’s usually known) and this number indicates the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. For instance, a whisky labelled as a 12-year-old may actually contain whisky that is much older, maybe 18 or 20 years, or more.

What are the Types of Casks?

Scotch whisky is matured in three main types of casks - American Standard Barrels (ASBs), sherry butts or hogshead casks.

American Standard Barrel (ASB)

Size: 180-200 litres.

The American Standard Barrel (ASB) is by far the most commonly used cask in Scotch whisky making and will usually have previously held bourbon. By law, bourbon barrels have to be made from American oak and used only once, making them ideal for a second use by the Scotch whisky industry.

Butt

Size: 475-600 litres.

Butts are typically made in cooperages in southwestern Spain from American or European oak. They are then sent to Jerez in southern Spain for seasoning, with sherry varieties such as Oloroso, Fino, and Pedro Ximénez (PX) in a process that usually takes up to two years.

Hogshead

Size: 225-250 litres.

Hogsheads are made from ASBs or Butts. Their staves are broken down and reassembled with new oak ends, making the Hogshead cask longer and narrower than the standard ASB. The increased capacity allows for greater interaction between the whisky and the wood.

Our Picks – Best Scotch Whiskies for Beginners

Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an unpeated Islay malt with a rich sherry influence. Enjoy smooth, coastal, and nutty notes with hints of dried fruit, spice and sea breeze.

Glenmorangie 10-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an elegant Highland whisky which has been aged in sherry and bourbon casks. You’ll find floral, honeyed, and creamy notes with baking spices, citrus and almond.

Glengoyne 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been handcrafted using slow distillation methods. Expect fresh green apple, toffee and vanilla, leading into gentle spice and oak.

Glendronach 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been matured in sherry casks for a deep, rich Christmas cake flavour. It brims with dark stone fruits, spice and chocolate notes with a long, lingering warmth.

Highland Park 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated malt from Orkney. It’s full of manuka honey, heather, smoke and citrus notes which work in perfect harmony to produce a well-balanced and bold spirit.

Speyburn Bourbon Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a classic Speyside whisky with soft vanilla, honey and orchard fruit flavours. It’s often described as light, fresh and approachable with a gentle creamy finish.

We hope our beginner’s guide to Scotch whisky has been helpful. The key is to take your time, trust your own palate and enjoy the journey. Whichever Scotch whisky you choose to start your journey, you’ll find plenty of variety in Still Spirit’s extensive range of Scotch whisky. Additionally, we stock a wide range of world whiskies, old & rare whisky, and whisky gift sets.