Classic Malts of Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Classic Malts of Scotland is a selection of six single malt whiskies, chosen by United Distillers and Vinters to represent the best of the their products representing the major whisky producing regions of Scotland. They are often marketed and displayed together in bars and liquor stores, and the marketing has proved quite successful. The six malts are:
| Whisky | Region |
| Dalwhinnie | Highland |
| Glenkinchie | Lowland |
| Cragganmore | Speyside |
| Oban | West Highland |
| Talisker | Skye |
| Lagavulin | Islay |
The regions differ from the more conventional categorisations, which generally include Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown, and Island (although Islay is often categorised separately from the other Scottish islands). Indeed Talisker is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye, which has never been a whisky region unto itself, though this categorisation enabled UDV to include both Talisker and Lagavulin, strongly flavoured malts with strong followings. Campbeltown's association with the distillation of whisky has greatly subsided over the years, leaving merely three working distilleries in the region, none owned by UDV. The Lowlands have faired little better, leaving only four, of which only Glenkinchie is UDV owned.
[edit] Distiller's editions
All six of the Classic Malts have released limited edition "Distiller's editions", which are finished in special casks selected by the master distiller at each distillery. Dalwhinnie's are finished in Oloroso casks, Glenkinchie in Amontillado, Cragganmore in Port, Oban in Montilla, Talisker in amoroso sherry, and Lagavulin in Pedro Ximénez sherry.
