Buy selected and rare Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

Highland whisky is one of the most diverse types of whisky in Scotland, produced in one of Scotland s most famous and beautiful regions and a favourite with collectors and whisky connoisseurs alike. Renowned for its rich aromas and complex flavour profiles, Highland whisky offers a harmonious blend of fruity, spicy and peaty notes. Ideal for connoisseurs and novices alike, it invites you to discover the tradition and craftsmanship of Scottish whisky production. World-famous brands such as Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenmorangie, Glendronach, Tomatin and several other renowned distilleries as well as bottlings from closed distilleries such as Banff or Brora are equally synonymous with outstanding quality and often boast a centuries-old tradition. The Highlands region extends north of the geological divide between Stonehaven and Dumbarton. It is sometimes further subdivided into the Central Highlands, the Northern Highlands, the Western Highlands and the Eastern Highlands. Highland whiskies are usually strong in flavour and yet quite different. For this reason, the Highlands are not perceived as one large region, but rather as four small but very distinct areas.

Northern Highlands
The north of Scotland is formed by a relatively flat plateau that faces the Atlantic and the North Sea and is characterised by impressive cliff landscapes. The malts of the northern Highlands tend to be slightly strong, have a light body, are quite delicate and offer a varied flavour experience. They are whiskies with complex flavours and a slightly bitter finish - sometimes spicy, sometimes with a hint of salt and a little smoke. Almost all the distilleries in the northern Highlands are located on the coast. The most northerly is Pulteney in Wick in the far north of the Scottish mainland and produces a delicate, fragrant and dry whisky. Heading south along the A9, the next distillery is Clynelish in Brora. This was built next to an older distillery in 1969, whose whiskies are known as Brora. Brora is regarded as a sophisticated and complex whisky. The best known of the malts from the northern Highlands is certainly Glenmorangie. Produced in Tain on the Cromarty estuary, Glenmorangie is the most popular malt in Scotland and the old bottlings in particular are highly sought after by connoisseurs and enthusiasts.

Western Highlands
On the western coast of the region, the Western Highlands, the various single malt whiskies have an overall maritime, salty character with a background of heather and peat as well as peppery flavours. The Western Highlands border the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Lowlands to the south, with the Inner Hebrides Islands off the coast. There have never been many distilleries in the Western Highlands; there are currently two distilleries, Oban and Ben Nevis. The reasons for this lie in the difficult geographical conditions: soils unsuitable for growing cereals, a lot of rain and a lack of suitable fuels such as peat and coal.

Central Highlands
The malts from the central Highlands are also known as Perthshire whiskies and come from a flat and fertile area between the cities of Stirling and Perth, most distilleries can be found along the valleys of the Tay and its tributaries. The well-known Blair Athol distillery and Scotland s smallest distillery Edradour are both located near Pitlochry and the most northerly distillery in the central Highlands is Dalwhinnie, which lies close to the Speyside border. A little further south is the Aberfeldy distillery on the outskirts of the town of the same name. Glenturret in Crieff lays claim to being the oldest distillery, although it was dismantled and rebuilt in the 1920s. The whiskies of the Central Highlands are very complex with different characters, but with the flavour of honey and heather they have one thing in common - they are lighter and sweeter than bottlings from the Eastern Highlands and have aromas of spices, elderberry, violet, pear and numerous spices.

Eastern Highlands
In the Eastern Highlands, some whiskies are produced that could be confused with those from the Speyside region. However, the region is better known for its mountainous landscape, old and beautiful harbour towns, picturesque sea cliffs and the many castles and old castle ruins. In the north of the region, near the southern border of the Speyside region, you can find mild whiskies, sometimes with a little smoke or malty-sweet. Such whiskies include Macduff, Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Knockdhu - the latter also known as An Cnoc. Further south are Fettercairn and Glencadam in Brechin. An unusually creamy and fruity malt is produced there. The area between Moray and Tay is home to two notable distilleries - Royal Lochnagar, in the shadow of the mountain of the same name, with a mild and rich whisky, and Glendronach, often aged in sherry casks and known for quite exceptional whiskies of outstanding quality.