The Highland region is the largest of Scotland’s whisky-producing areas — a vast sweep of country covering everything north of the Highland Line except Speyside. With such a huge geographical spread, Highland malts are the most varied of all, ranging from light and floral to rich, robust and even lightly smoky.
Where is the Highland whisky region?
The Highland region stretches from the edge of the central belt all the way to the far north coast, and from the east coast across to the west. It effectively surrounds Speyside, which is treated as a region in its own right. Because it is so large, it is often thought of in sub-areas — northern, eastern, western and the islands. Explore the wider area in our Highlands travel guide.
The Highland style
There is no single Highland style — that is the point. Northern Highland malts can be full-bodied with a touch of spice; eastern ones are often fruity and firm; western Highland whiskies lean richer and sometimes smoky. What they share is a certain robustness and depth compared with the lighter Lowland style.
Key Highland distilleries
Highland distilleries you can read more about here include:
- Oban — a small, west-coast distillery in the middle of the harbour town.
- Old Pulteney — the “maritime malt” from Wick in the far north.
- Tullibardine — a Perthshire distillery known for wine-cask finishes.
- Ardmore — a lightly peated Highland malt from Aberdeenshire.
Island whiskies
Scotland’s islands (other than Islay) are usually grouped within the Highland region, and they include some of the most characterful malts of all:
- Talisker — the peppery, maritime malt of the Isle of Skye.
- Jura — from the remote island next to Islay.
- Arran — fresh and fruity, from the Isle of Arran.
- Tobermory — the colourful distillery on the Isle of Mull.
- Highland Park — the heather-honey, gently smoky malt of Orkney.
Visiting Highland distilleries
Because the region is so large, Highland distilleries pair naturally with almost any Scottish road trip — from the North Coast 500 in the far north to Perthshire and Argyll in the south. See our pick of the best whisky distilleries to visit and our overview of Scotch whisky regions.
This guide is part of our complete Scotch whisky guide — explore the whisky regions, distilleries and how to plan a whisky trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is Highland whisky?
Highland is Scotland’s largest whisky region, covering everything north of the Highland Line except Speyside. Its malts are the most varied, from light and floral to rich and smoky.
Are island whiskies Highland whiskies?
Yes — with the exception of Islay, Scotland’s islands are officially classed within the Highland region, though they are often referred to informally as “Island” whiskies.
Which famous distilleries are in the Highlands?
Highland names include Glenmorangie, Dalmore, Oban, Old Pulteney, Talisker, Highland Park, Aberfeldy and Tullibardine, among many others.
What does Highland whisky taste like?
It varies widely, but Highland malts are generally fuller-bodied than Lowland whiskies, with everything from fruit and spice to coastal salinity and smoke.
