British Spirits

Whisky or whiskey is a spirit made from fermented grains, typically corn, rye, wheat, and barley, and is always aged, predominantly in oak barrels. The story of its discovery provokes heated debates, since both Irish and Scots claim whisk... READ MORE

Scotch is the renowned whisky variety hailing from Scotland. Although it can be made with the addition of other grains or cereals, the original Scottish whisky has to be made with a base of water and malted barley—barley that has be... READ MORE

London Dry gin style is a quality designation for a specific gin variety in which all the flavors have to be natural and added through distillation. This gin is also distilled from a neutral base spirit that is enriched with various botan... READ MORE

Islay is a Scottish island and one of the officially recognized Scottish whisky regions. There are nine operational distilleries on the island, and most of them produce strong, robust, smoky, and peated whisky, but there are also fruity a... READ MORE

Often dubbed as the whisky center, Speyside is one of five official Scottish whisky regions. Although it is geographically a part of Highlands, this area is a separate appellation, because of the large concentration of distilleries and th... READ MORE

In terms of size, Highland is the largest region designated for the production of Scottish whisky. It covers most of the Scottish mainland, and though it sometimes includes the islands, they are mostly regarded as a separate region. Becau... READ MORE

Plymouth gin is made with grain alcohol, soft Dartmoor water, and seven botanicals that include juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, orange and lemon peel, orris, and cardamom. It was created in 1793, and it is still produced ... READ MORE

Old Tom is a gin style that evolved in England during the 18th century. It is generally believed that Old Tom was somewhat of a middle style between herbal-packed London Dry gins and malty Dutch jenever, but some believe it was a predeces... READ MORE

Campbeltown is a small whisky region that was once the center of Scottish whisky production. Nowadays, there are only three distilleries left, but Campbeltown remains an important area that produces distinctive and unique styles. Whisky f... READ MORE

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. Traditional... READ MORE