Single malt Scotch whisky is distinguished and categorized by the region from which it comes. There are five primary regions that produce single malts which are distinctly different from each other from the criteria of color, aroma, and taste. These regions are the Highlands, the Lowlands, islands, Campbeltown, and the island of Islay (pronounced “eye-luh”). “Single” means the whisky is the product of a single distillery (not a blend); “malt” means the whisky is made from malted (germinated) barley grain; and “Scotch” means the product was distilled and aged in Scotland.

Blended Scotch whiskies are popular around the world. Blends usually consist of one to four single malts as their base, and 30 to 40 grain whiskies. These components are expertly blended by the Blend Master to create Scotland’s most recognized product.

Beers and Ales from Scotland are now characterized by either those produced by state-of-the art international conglomerates or those produced by smaller independent breweries using traditional methods of production.