Collection: Speyside & Highland Whisky

This is the unpeated side of Scotch — the opposite of Islay, and where most people should start.

Speyside has more distilleries than the rest of Scotland combined, packed into a small area around the River Spey. The style is fruity, honeyed and often sherry-influenced. The Macallan is the region's most famous name and the most collected whisky in the world.

Highland is the largest region geographically and the least consistent in style — it covers everything from coastal and slightly salty (Oban, Old Pulteney) to rich and sherried (Dalmore) to the honeyed and waxy (Clynelish, a cult name among collectors).

Sherry cask vs bourbon cask

This matters more than the region. Sherry casks give dried fruit, raisin, spice and darker colour. Bourbon casks give vanilla, honey, citrus and a lighter colour. Macallan Sherry Oak and Macallan Double Cask are the same distillery making both arguments — a genuinely useful comparison.

New to whisky? Start here, not on Islay. A few drops of water opens it up.

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