Best Eastern Scottish Spirit/Liqueur Types
Lowland is a region for Scottish whisky that is located in the south of Scotland. This small region, in terms of the number of distilleries, is mostly associated with triple distillation, though not all distilleries employ it. Traditionally, whisky that is produced in the area will be lighter, softer, smoother, and more elegant, with a floral and fruity character and typical honeysuckle, grass, toffee, ginger, toast, and cinnamon aromas.
Because of their light style and the lack of peaty flavors, these whiskies are often called the Lowland Ladies. They make a perfect aperitif and are excellent entry-level whisky. Best distilleries in the region include Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, and Bladnoch.
This Scottish liqueur is a created with a secret blend of aged Scotch whiskey, honey, herbs, and spices. Its history dates back to the 18th century when allegedly Prince Charles Edward Stuart passed down his secret recipe to Clan Mackinnon. In 1914, the secret recipe was obtained by Malcolm MacKinnon, who first registered it as a trademark and established The Drambuie Liqueur Company in Edinburgh. Drambuie, whose names derives from Scots Gaelic an dram buidheach meaning the drink that satisfies, is a full-bodied drink, characterized by its unusual combination of herbal, spicy, and sweet flavors.
It can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but it also blends well into cocktails and long drinks. The most popular is Drambuie-based cocktail is Rusty Nail—an American classic dating back to the Prohibition era.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Glayva is an award-winning Scottish whisky liqueur. The drink hails from Leith, Edinburgh, where it was created in 1947 by a local whisky merchant Ronald Morrison. The liqueur is a blend of the finest Scotch whiskies, honey, tangerines, cinnamon, and other spices.
Glayva has an appealing golden color, a smooth, subtly sweet flavor, and aromas reminiscent of honey and spices. It is best served straight or on the rocks. The name glayva is a transcription of Gaelic gle mhath, meaning very good.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Magnum is a whisky-based cream liqueur produced and bottled in Edinburgh. It combines fresh cream and Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Apart from its excellent flavor, this Scottish concoction is also distinguished for its bottling—it is sold in reusable stainless steel flasks.
Magnum is creamy, smooth, and richly flavored. It has a good balance of sweet, caramel-like notes and bold and warming whisky nuances. The liqueur is created with Dutch cream, while the whisky is sourced from BenRiach. It is bottled at 17% alcohol by volume.
THE BEST Magnum Cream Liqueurs
Best Eastern Scottish Spirit/Liqueur Producers
John Dewar & Sons, established in 1846 in Perth, Scotland, by John Dewar, is a prominent name in the Scotch whisky industry. The company expanded rapidly under the leadership of John’s sons, Alexander and Tommy, who successfully promoted the brand worldwide.
In 1998, Dewar & Sons became part of Bacardi and continues to thrive with operations across Scotland. The company owns five distilleries: Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff, and Royal Brackla, contributing to its rich heritage in whisky production.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2024
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023
Glengoyne Distillery is a renowned whisky distillery located in the Scottish Highlands, just north of Glasgow, known for its commitment to crafting exceptional single malt Scotch whisky. The distillery, which has been in operation since 1833, produces whiskies that are celebrated for their smoothness, depth, and complexity.
What sets Glengoyne apart is its traditional approach to whisky-making, particularly its focus on slow maturation. The distillery uses copper pot stills to distill its whisky and matures it in oak casks that are carefully chosen to impart unique flavors.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2019
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
Eden Mill is a Scottish distillery and brewery located in St Andrews, Fife, known for producing premium gins, whiskies, and beers. Established in 2012, it was the first to make spirits in the region in over 150 years. The distillery emphasizes sustainability, utilizing renewable energy sources and collaborating with local companies to repurpose by-products.
Eden Mill's products, such as their coastal gins and distinctive single malt whisky, draw inspiration from the local landscape, incorporating botanicals sourced from around the distillery. In June 2023, they began constructing a new distillery and visitor center on the banks of the River Eden, aiming to become operational later in 2024.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
BEST Eden Mill Spirits
Deanston Distillery, nestled on the banks of the River Teith in the Scottish Highlands, is known for producing handcrafted single malt Scotch whisky. Established in a former cotton mill in 1965, Deanston focuses on traditional production methods, including using only Scottish ingredients and natural maturation processes.
Their whiskies are crafted without added coloring or chill filtration, enhancing the authentic flavors.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2021
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
Glencadam Distillery, established in 1825, is known for its award-winning Single Malt Scotch Whisky, which has been produced using traditional, handcrafted methods for nearly 200 years. The distillery's whisky offerings include a variety of expressions, all matured in carefully selected casks to ensure quality and depth of flavor.
Glencadam whiskies are celebrated for their rich, complex character, often influenced by maturation in a range of cask types, including ex-bourbon and sherry butts.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
Holyrood Distillery is a craft distillery located in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 2019, it is known for producing small-batch, high-quality spirits, including whisky and gin. The distillery emphasizes traditional methods combined with innovative techniques, allowing for unique flavor profiles in their products.
Holyrood's whiskies are often aged in a variety of casks, contributing to rich, complex flavors. In addition to whisky, the distillery also creates a range of gins that feature botanicals sourced from Scotland. The distillery offers tours and tastings, allowing visitors to learn about the distillation process and sample their products.
AWARDS
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023, 2022
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Gold
2024
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
Smokehead is a bold and distinctive brand of Scotch whisky known for its peaty, smoky flavors that appeal to whisky lovers seeking something intense and unconventional. Launched in 2006, Smokehead is produced by the Ian Macleod Distillers, a well-respected independent family-owned company based in Scotland.
The whisky is created from malted barley that is distilled in one of Scotland’s renowned distilleries, though the exact distillery remains undisclosed, which adds an element of mystery to the brand. The core feature of Smokehead is its strong, peaty character, with a powerful smokiness that dominates its flavor profile.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2023
The Rum & Cachaça Masters - Gold
2022
The Rum & Cachaça Masters - Master
2023
BEST Matugga Distillers Spirits
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2023
USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Chairman's Trophy
2021
USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100
2021
The Six Isles is a blended Scotch whisky brand produced by Ian Macleod Distillers, an independent and family-owned Scottish company known for its range of premium whiskies. Ian Macleod Distillers has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality spirits, and The Six Isles is one of their notable offerings, showcasing the rich diversity of Scotland's island whiskies.
As the name suggests, The Six Isles is a blend of single malts from six different whisky-producing islands of Scotland: Islay, Skye, Orkney, Jura, Mull, and Arran. Each island brings its own distinct characteristics to the blend, with Islay providing its signature peaty and smoky notes, while islands like Skye and Arran contribute sweeter and fruitier flavors.
AWARDS
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
BEST Ian Macleod Distillers - The Six Isles Spirits
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.