Stirling Whisky

The whisky, explained

A short guide to Scottish single malt whisky

What is Scottish single malt whisky?

A single malt is whisky made at one distillery, from malted barley, in copper pot stills, and matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years. The single simply means one distillery, not one cask or one barrel. It is the purest expression of a distillery's character, which is why single malts vary so much from place to place. Ours is distilled and matured right here in Stirling, at Scotland's smallest whisky distillery.

Single malt vs blended whisky

The difference comes down to what is in the bottle.

• Single malt. Malt whisky from one distillery only. More individual, showing the character of that one place.
• Blended whisky. A marriage of malt and grain whisky from several distilleries, built for consistency and a smoother, lighter everyday style.

Neither is better, they are different. A single malt is the one to reach for when you want to taste where a whisky comes from.

Scotland's whisky regions and how they taste

Scotch is grouped into five regions, each with a loose flavour signature.

Region	Typical style
Speyside	Elegant and fruity, often sherried, easy to love
Highland	Broad and varied, from floral to rich and full
Islay	Bold, smoky and peaty, with sea salt
Lowland	Light, gentle and grassy, often triple distilled
Campbeltown	Robust and briny, with a touch of oil and smoke

Stirling sits on the edge of the Highlands, and our spirit is clean, bright and full of character. Our Sons of Scotland range gathers single casks from across these regions, so you can taste the differences side by side.

What is new make whisky?

New make is the clear spirit that runs off the still before it goes into a cask. Ours was judged the best in the world at the World Whiskies Awards, and you can buy it as Stirling New Make Whisky. It is a genuine curiosity for enthusiasts and a window into how whisky begins. Read our full guide to new make spirit to learn more.

How to drink single malt whisky

Start with it neat at room temperature in a tulip shaped glass or a Glencairn, which gathers the aromas towards your nose. Add a few drops of water to open it up and soften a higher strength dram. Skip the ice while you are tasting, as cold mutes the flavour. For the full method, see our guide on how to taste whisky, or come and taste it at the source on a guided whisky tasting.