Experiencing Scotland Through the Whiskies it Crafted

Kylie Petty
3 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

A whisky lover’s notes on six Scotch whiskies and the Scottish scenes they evoke.

Buildings on a small stream with lots of vegetation — Deans Village, Scotland

As a whisky lover, I had to try a few Scotch whiskies during my time in its land of origin, Scotland. All the Scotch whiskies I tried were single malt, meaning they were made from 100% malted barley and distilled in one place, not blended with another whisky. Some of the whiskies, however, were peated. Peatiness refers to the smoky smell and flavor some whiskies contain, which develops when the barley is exposed to the smoke released from burning peat — old bog vegetation. Whiskies have different levels of peat (measured in PPM), and the higher the PPM, the smokier the whisky is.

Since Scotch whisky is one of the largest exports out of Scotland, there were plenty of unique peated and unpeated options to try. Each whisky had a completely different flavor profile and a completely different Scottish experience I imagined myself in while sipping it.

Field of lounging cows — Boat of Garten, Scotland

Loch Lomond Original Single Malt

Notes of orchard fruit, honey, and soft smoke.

Loch Lomond Original Single Malt Whisky, Loch Lomond Distillery, unpeated, 40% ABV

Since it’s a bit heavy, the Loch Lomond compares to walking past an open field of sheep or cows. Sometimes you can smell the livestock before you see it, but the fresh air often sweeps the smell away in a moment. It has a sense of the sweeter side of nature, with touches of peach and pear giving way to deja vu.

young woman in a rain coat smiling at the camera on a hill, half of the sky has dark clouds, half has lighter clouds, with a rainbow over the dark clouds — Calton Hill, Scotland

Singleton Perfectly Balanced

Notes of crunchy nuts, stewed fruits, and espresso.

The Singleton Of Dufftown 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Dufftown Distillery, unpeated, Speyside, 40% ABV

The way the Singleton 12 Year switches up from sweet to nutty to a lightly acidic finish reflects Scottish weather. Chilly and rainy one minute, sunny and hot the next, the fact that it will change is one thing you can count on. Just like Singleton’s pleasant shift from brown sugar to nutty hazelnut to bitter espresso in every sip.

Street in Scotland with colorful buildings on either side of a cobblestone street — Edinburgh, Scotland

The Classic Laddie

Notes of ripe green fruits and brown sugar.

The Classic Laddie, Bruichladdich Distillery, unpeated, Islay Scottish barley, 50% ABV

The Classic Laddie from Bruichladdich Distillery is light and fresh, quite a unique experience for a whisky. Like Edinburgh in the morning. Some people are milling around, but most tourists are still in bed, tours haven’t started yet, and most shops are still setting up for the day. Relaxing. Refreshing.

View of Edinburgh from a hill, with a cliffside on one side and the city at its base — Calton Hill, Scotland

Talisker 10-Year-Old

Notes of dried fruit, smoke, and sea salt.

Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Talisker Distillery, peated: 18 to 22 PPM, Isle of Skye, 45.8% ABV

Looking down from a mountain, seeing a cliff on one side and a small town on the other has all the hallmarks of the Talisker 10 Year. Smelling of smoke and sea salt, then moving from salty to smoky on the tongue, the Talisker evokes two worlds at once.

photo from a bridge above train tracks, with a university at the end of the tracks — Edinburgh, Scotland

Islay Storm

Notes of pungent smoke, vanilla, and spice.

Islay Storm, distillery unknown, peated: 30 to 40 PPM, Islay, 40% ABV

The Islay Storm peated whisky is without a doubt the roughest whisky on the list. So it gets the roughest experience: a red-eye flight into the ever-changing weather in Edinburgh. The smoky smell infiltrates the room minutes after opening even a small bottle, just as jet lag seeps through your brain and body. Sipping on it feels like you’re drinking a bonfire that’s just gone out, complete with a bit of a spicy mouthfeel. It can be nice; some people like it, but it’s an acquired taste with an unforgiving kick.

field of flowers and grass with trees and mountains in the background — Boat of Garten, Scotland

Port Charlotte 18

Notes of toffee, smoke, and charred oak.

Port Charlotte 18, Bruichladdich Distillery, heavily peated: 40 PPM, Islay Scottish barley, 52.3% ABV

Port Charlotte from Bruichladdich Distillery recreates the feeling of hiking beautiful mountains in the countryside. The heavy peatiness provides a smoky sense of the rustic outdoors after the easy notes of caramel and honeysuckle on the front.