It’s National Scotch Day! Celebrate With These 5 Bottles That Honor Scotland’s Diverse Whisky Regions

Happy National Scotch Day! Many consider scotch to be a wintery spirit with all of its heat, intensity and subtle nuances, but it can and should be enjoyed year-round. The simple fact that this boozy holiday falls on July 27 is proof that any season is scotch season. Though many consider summer to be a time for travel, not everyone can get away from the office. But that’s the beauty of scotch: the liquid offerings from each region are so distinctive that they are a form of travel in a glass.

If you want to celebrate National Scotch Day but a trip to Scotland is not in the cards this summer, consider these five scotch whiskies from the country’s five whisky-producing regions: Speyside, Campbeltown, Islay, the Highlands and the Lowlands.

These 5 whiskies capture each distinctive region’s profile so beautifully that they are the equivalent of a liquid tour of Scotland — Ron Burgundy would be proud.

A Liquid Tour Of Scotland for National Scotch Day

The Scottish Highlands: Glenmorangie 15 Year The Cadboll Estate

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This heavily mountainous, forested area in northwestern Scotland is home to legendary landmarks including mountains like Ben Nevis and Loch Ness. Whiskies from the Scottish Highlands are typically bold and sweet, with plenty of cereal malt characteristics. What better whisky to showcase the region’s distinctively malty profile than Glenmorangie 15 Year Cadboll Estate?

This whisky marks the third edition within the brand’s Cadboll Estate Series, which was designed to showcase the rich multidimensionality of barley from the Scottish Highland’s at the Glenmorangie’s property. With an ABV of 43%, this scotch whisky was aged in a mixture of ex-bourbon and ex-Amontillado sherry casks. Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation Dr. Bill Lumsden is quite the oenophile, and it’s no surprise he would choose to age this whisky partially in sherry casks.

This whisky hosts a nose of orchard fruit, apple butter and pastry. With a palate that is tannic yet mildly viscous, flavors of honey and nougat dominate the pour. The whisky is light and sweet, making it a quintessential summer offering. The sherry shines through on the finish, with plenty of cream, honey and pastry.

If you’re looking for a bottle of Glenmorangie 15 Year The Cadboll Estate, you can pick one up for anywhere between $60 to $99.

The Scottish Lowlands: Bladnoch Samsara

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The terrain within the Scottish Lowlands is significantly gentler than its counterpart. Picture rolling hills and sweeping portions of farmland. Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow are situated within this geographic designation, and more people live in the Lowlands than the Highlands.

Lowland scotches are often described as light and gentle with plenty of floral characteristics. Lowland distilleries often use the triple-distillation process, which is often found in Ireland. If you find yourself partial to Irish whiskeys, Lowland scotches might be a good entryway to the world of scotch due to their smooth and grassy characteristics.

Bladnoch Distillery has an origin story that dates back to 1817. Thomas and John McClelland were given a license to distill scotch whisky on their Bladnoch farm, and the producer was known as the “Queen of the Lowlands.” Fortunes rise and fall, and Bladnoch was mothballed in 1993 after facing a century of ups and downs. The ending for Bladnoch is a happy one, however, and the brand resumed production in 2017.

The name “Samsara” is fitting for Bladnoch’s story, as it means “rebirth.” This non-chill-filtered whisky clocks in at 46.7% and hosts a suggested retail price of around $100, making it a bit of an indulgence. Samsara was matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-California red wine casks, and the influence of those red wine casks is pretty much felt immediately on the nose of this pour.

The opulent nose is chock full of aromas of rich, black plums interlaced with tahitian vanilla bean, with wafts of sandalwood. Spices play about the palate with that luscious vanilla throughline, and the whisky finishes rich and heady, with a touch of orange zest at its conclusion.

Speyside: The Glenlivet 14 Year Cognac Cask

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Speyside has the highest concentration of distilleries in all of Scotland, making it the premier whisky destination within the country. Some of the biggest names in scotch have made their home within the region, including The Macallan, Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

This region hosts an eclectic array of styles, and you’ll likely find pretty much anything but heavily peated whiskies in the region. A lot of Speyside whiskies are known for orchard fruit aromas, and you’ll find a high concentration of sherry-finished whiskies within the region.

This offering from The Glenlivet is a great transitional whisky as we segue from summer into fall. Its 14-year age statement makes sure it’s no slouch, and the cognac imbues the pour with orchard fruit offerings. The nose is surprisingly light and inviting and it segues into a palate of hot buttered biscuits, with plenty of musk. Cognac fans will delight in how much the spirit shines through, adding apple custard flavors. With a gentle finish that doesn’t linger on, this is an easy-drinking scotch.

If you’re looking to pick up a bottle of this 40%-ABV scotch, you can find it within the $50-$70 range. Its reasonable price point makes it a relatively affordable luxury.

Campbelltown: Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength

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Campbelltown sits on the Kintyre Peninsula, and the region used to house over 30 scotch whisky distilleries. Due to its coastal proximity, the region possesses a maritime climate with mellow winters and cooler summers. Just three distilleries sit in Campbeltown today, and they are Hazelburn, Longrow and Springbank.

Whiskies from Campbelltown possess a distinctly maritime sensibility, with plenty of brine and salt, and this whisky epitomizes the signature Campbelltown style. This offering from culty scotch whisky producer, Springbank, will be fairly tricky to find but it’s well worth the hunt. The whisky hosts a suggested retail price of $200 and an ABV of 55.3%.

On the nose of this whisky, picture plenty of sweet, smoked apples, sea breeze and char. The palate is a heady combination of sweetness, smoke and salt, with a nice bit of ash adding depth and complexity. The finish on this 12-year-old Springbank leans heavier on the char, with pepper and lemon.

Islay: Ardbeg Wee Beasty

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Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island, and over 3,000 people live there. Whisky and tourism are huge drivers of the region’s economy, and the terrain is shaped by heavy rain and rugged wind. The typical calling card for an Islay scotch whisky is the lingering aroma of peat. If you like smokey, brash flavors and appreciate Mezcal, consider trying Islay scotch.

Islay peat plays a special role in scotch whisky making, and it is often burned in the distillery’s kiln. Peatsmoke imbues the scotches from this region with a signature smoky, charred funk that people either love or hate.

You’ll find no shortage of smoky peat in this 5-year-old offering from Ardbeg, and after tasting it you’ll agree that “Wee Beasty” is an appropriate name. With a super toasty nose, there’s plenty of char and smoke. The palate is sweet and creamy — yet don’t be mistaken, this whisky is still a peat bomb. Wee Beasty lives up to its name and finishes short, punchy and powerful with some toffee and citrus.

Perhaps the best news is Wee Beasty is pretty affordable, and you can pick up a bottle of this scotch for between $30 an $60.

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