Lowland single malts

File:Glenkinchie Distillery - geograph.org.uk - 30624.jpg

As a region, the Lowlands have been more strongly associated with grain whisky and blended whisky than malt whisky. Blended whisky often uses a high proportion of Lowland malt, as the less intense flavour profile means it does not dominate the other constituent whiskies.{{cite book |editor1-last=Russell |editor1-first=Inge |title=Whisky : Technology, Production and Marketing |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-669202-0 |page=234|date=2003-08-28 }}

In terms of Lowlands whisky flavour, the character of the malt often comes through strongly, with a soft body, according to another report.{{cite web|url=https://www.diffordsguide.com/beer-wine-spirits/category/580/lowland-single-malt-whisky|title=Scotch Whisky Regions|publisher=Diffords Guide|access-date=2 November 2018}} Traditionally the barley used has been unpeated, possibly because the Lowlands, East Lothian in particular, had a strong coal-mining industry.{{cite book |last1=Bathgate |first1=George N. |editor1-last=Russell |editor1-first=Inge |title=Whisky : Technology, Production and Marketing |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-669202-0 |page=8|date=2003-08-28 }}

File:Auchentoshan distillery - geograph.org.uk - 416504.jpg

Another review states that most of the region's whiskies tend to be "lighter and grassier" without the "smoky" flavour produced by peat.[https://manofmany.com/lifestyle/drinks/guide-to-scotland-whisky-regions?amp A Comprehensive Guide to Scotland’s Whisky Regions]

However, in recent years lowland distilleries such as Ailsa Bay and Annandale have become characterised by their use of peat, with a flavor profile more typical of Islay whiskey.{{cite web|url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2016/02/william-grant-ups-peated-presence-with-ailsa-bay/|title=William Grant ups peated presence with Ailsa Bay|date=12 February 2016|publisher=The Spirits Business|access-date=2 November 2018}}

According to an August 2019 report, Auchentoshan is the region's only distillery still making whisky that is triple distilled which leads to "an edge of citrus flavour".

The distinction between the Lowlands and the Highlands was originally drawn by the 1784 Wash Act. Highland distilleries were taxed based upon the size of their still; Lowland distilleries were taxed per gallon in the wash.{{cite web|url=http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/gleanings/washact.htm|publisher=Edinburgh University|access-date=1 November 2018|title=The Wash Act, 1823}} This led to outrage from Lowland distillers over their comparably high duty rates.{{cite web|url=http://www.kennetpans.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=219&Itemid=387|title=Acts of Parliament|publisher=Kennetpans|access-date=2 November 2018}}

Today the term Lowland is a "protected locality" for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation.[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/contents/made Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Section 10: Locality and region geographical indications] The modern Lowland–Highland line is drawn by the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 as follows:

{{blockquote

|text="the line [begins] at the North Channel and [runs] along the southern foreshore of the Firth of Clyde to Greenock, and from there to Cardross Station, then eastwards in a straight line to the summit of Earl’s Seat in the Campsie Fells, and then eastwards in a straight line to the Wallace Monument, and from there eastwards along the line of the B998 and A91 roads until the A91 meets the M90 road at Milnathort, and then along the M90 northwards until the Bridge of Earn, and then along the River Earn until its confluence with the River Tay, and then along the southern foreshore of that river and the Firth of Tay until it comes to the North Sea."{{cite web|url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/features/11155/the-laws-of-scotch-labelling/|title=Laws of Scotch labelling|publisher=scotchwhisky.com|access-date=2 November 2018}}

}}

File:Lindores Abbey Distillery.jpg

This line is distinct from the geological Highland Fault line to the north. If the geological line were used, several Highland distilleries would become Lowland ones, including Loch Lomond and Fettercairn.{{cite web|url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/features/11155/the-laws-of-scotch-labelling/|title=Laws of Scotch labelling|publisher=scotchwhisky.com|access-date=2 November 2018}} According to Visit Scotland, the Lowlands region covers "much of the Central Belt and the South of Scotland including Edinburgh & The Lothians, Glasgow & The Clyde Valley, the Kingdom of Fife, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders". There were 18 distilleries in the region as of 2019, including some that opened quite recently, such as Lindores Abbey, Clydeside and Glasgow.

[https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/whisky/distilleries/lowland/ Whisky Distilleries in the Lowlands]

File:RAER's Unique Copper Stills at Jackton Distillery, East Kilbride.jpg at Jackton Distillery produces a remarkable Lowland spirit which forms the DNA blueprint of its future Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.]]

• Ailsa Bay
• Annandale
• Ardgowan
• Auchentoshan
• Bladnoch
• Bonnington{{cite web |title=Crabbie's owner plans Edinburgh distillery |url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/15549/crabbie-s-owner-plans-edinburgh-distillery/ |access-date=1 November 2018 |publisher=scotchwhisky.com}}
• Borders{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-43948975|title=Borders Distillery opens to the public in Hawick|work=BBC News|date=May 2018|access-date=1 November 2018}}
• Clydeside{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-42083442|title=New whisky distillery opens in Glasgow|work=BBC News|date=23 November 2017|access-date=21 February 2018}}
• Daftmill
• Eden Mill{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgekoutsakis/2018/05/08/eden-mill-single-malt-whisky-world-record/#274712fb682e|title=Eden Mill's First Single Malt Whisky Breaks A New World Record|work=Forbes|access-date=1 November 2018}}
• Falkirk {{cite web|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/distillery-due-to-open-this-year-bringing-jobs-boost-1-4344265|title=Distillery due to open this year bringing jobs boost|publisher=The Falkirk Herald|access-date=1 November 2018}}
• Glasgow 1770
• Glenkinchie
• Holyroodhttps://www.whiskymag.com/articles/holyrood-launches-first-single-malt-whisky-arrival/
• InchDairnie{{cite web|url=https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/9330/inchdairnie/#/|title=InchDairnie - Scotch Whisky|access-date=8 December 2016}}
• Jackton
• Kingsbarns
• Lagg
• Lindores Abbey{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-41524677|title=New distillery opens at Lindores Abbey in Fife|work=BBC News|date=6 October 2017|access-date=21 February 2018}}
• Lochlea{{cite web|url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/scotch-whiskey/lochlea-distillery-launches-its-first-core-single-malt-whisky/|title=Lochlea Distillery Launches Its First Core Single Malt Whisky |date=27 July 2022 }}
• Moffat {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDi0rjSO6Q|title= Visiting the World’s Forgotten Whisky Region|publisher=Ruth Aisling|access-date=19 May 2025}}
• Port of Leithhttps://www.timeout.com/uk/news/the-uks-first-vertical-whisky-distillery-has-opened-in-scotland-101923
• Rosebank

• Burnbrae {{cite web|url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/features/17347/scotch-whisky-distilleries-to-open-in-2018/|title=Scotch Whisky distilleries to open in 2018|publisher=scotchwhisky.com|access-date=1 November 2018}}
• The Clutha {{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45321003|title=Glasgow whisky distillery to be called The Clutha|work=BBC News|date=27 August 2018|access-date=1 November 2018}}

• Inverleven{{cite web|url=https://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/inverleven.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415204919/http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/inverleven.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 April 2009|title=Inverleven|publisher=Malt Madness|access-date=2 November 2018}}
• Littlemill{{cite web|url=https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/whisky/8-of-scotlands-most-famous-lost-whisky-distilleries/|title=8 of Scotland's most famous lost whisky distilleries|date=28 July 2015|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=2 November 2018}}
• Bottlings of Littlemill are periodically released by the Loch Lomond Group, who took on ownership of the distillery shortly before its closure.{{cite web|url=https://www.smws.com/littlemill-distillery|title=Littlemill|publisher=SMWS|access-date=2 November 2018}}
• Lochrin {{cite web|url=http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2015/05/06/chance-to-explore-former-site-of-iconic-edinburgh-distillery/|title=Chance to explore former site of iconic Edinburgh distillery|date=6 May 2015|publisher=Deadline News|access-date=2 November 2018}}
• St. Magdalene

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book | last=Barnard | first=Alfred | author-link=Alfred Barnard |title=The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom | publisher=Birlinn |year=2008 |orig-year=1887 | location=Edinburgh | isbn=978-1-84158-652-6}}

{{Whisky producing regions}}

Category:Scottish malt whisky

Category:Scottish Lowlands