Region Profile - Speyside
Region Overview
Speyside gets its name from the River Spey, which cuts through this region and provides water to many of the distilleries. Encompassing the area surrounding the River Spey in north-east Scotland, once considered part of the Highlands, the region has approximately 50 distilleries within its geographic boundaries and has officially been recognised as a region, distinct from the Highlands, since 2014. According to the national tourist board, Speyside includes the area between the Highlands to the west and Aberdeenshire in the east, extending north from the Cairngorms National Park. According to one source, the top six in 2019 were The Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Aberlour, Glenfarclas, and Balvenie. Region characteristics: vary greatly from "rich and textured to fragrantly floral"; in general, "sweet, "caramel", "fruity" and "spicy", according to the national tourist board. Roughly 50 percent of Scotland's whisky is made here in the approximately 50 distilleries located in this region. Another review states that the use of peat is not common here, so many of the whiskies are not "smoky"; the article concluded that "typically, most Speyside whisky is fruity, sweet, and nutty, featuring notes of apple, honey, vanilla, and spice".
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