The Lowlands Region: A Flurry of Revitalisation
- Emma Gibbs
- Mar 21, 2024
- 2 min read
The Lowlands region. 🥃 An historically overlooked region for Scotch whisky, and once home to the infamous ‘rascally liquor’ condemned by Robert Burns, BUT the region is currently undergoing an exciting flurry of revitalisation.
Where is the Lowlands region?
The Lowlands region (one of the five Scotch whisky-producing regions) is a protected locality under UK Government legislation and is located in the area south of the theoretical Highland line. It stretches from Glasgow, across to the Kingdom of Fife in the east and down to the Scottish Borders in the south.
How many distilleries belong to the Lowlands region?
Currently (as of March 2024) there are 22.
Why are there so few distilleries in the Lowlands?
In the late 19th century, there were over 100 producers in the Lowlands, producing whisky on an industrial scale, but often of poor quality. Many became victims of the harsh effects of WWI and the U.S. Prohibition, and by the year 2000 the number of distilleries had plummeted to just THREE.
What’s special about the Lowlands region?
The Lowlands are home to the FIRST ever written reference to whisky.
On the 1 June 1495 the Royal Exchequer Rolls included an entry detailing that Friar John Cor, was ordered by King James IV to produce ‘VIII bolls of malt’ at Lindores Abbey. 👑
Anything else?
Because the vast majority of distilleries have been built from the ground up in the last 10 years or so, they tend to be quite innovative and have an inbuilt dedication to sustainability, arguably more so than any of the other regions. ♻️
Eden Mill, for instance, have built a brand-new distillery on the Eden Campus at the University of St. Andrews. The distillery has been built using bio-based materials and aims to achieve net-zero status when it opens later this year.
Who are the best-known Lowlands producers?
Well-known distilleries include Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie, Bladnoch, The Borders Distillery and Kingsbarns Distillery.
Any new distilleries?
Yes, the Port of Leith Distillery in Leith opened just last year and the revered Rosebank Distillery (which had previously been mothballed for 25 years) ran its first distillation in June 2023.
Does Lowlands whisky have a particular flavour profile?
It is often said that Lowland whiskies have a light, grassy and sometimes floral flavour profile.
Should I visit the Lowlands region?
Yes. Most distilleries in this region have visitor centres and offer tours of the facilities. The region is also home to the Johnnie Walker Experience and the famous SCOTCH Whisky Bar at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh.
Any festivals I should know about?
Yes, the Fife Whisky Festival held in late February/early March every year showcases whiskies from the Fife area and from all five of the whisky-producing regions. You’ll find a wide variety of drams to try, plus separate tasting events and masterclasses.
Are you a fan of Lowlands whisky? Let me know in the comments.
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