A quick-reference guide to the terms, abbreviations, and regions you’ll come across throughout ScottishDelight – from production vocabulary to the historical events that shaped the industry.
Scottish whisky regions
Term Definition Campbeltown Once a major whisky hub, now down to 3 active distilleries Highland The largest region by area; broad range of styles, some overlap with Speyside Island(s) Covers all whisky-producing Scottish islands except Islay; originally considered part of the Highlands Islay Peated, coastal style Lowland Historically triple-distilled, typically unpeated; lighter, drier style Speyside Once considered part of the Highlands; highest concentration of distilleries in Scotland
Whisky types and production terms
Term Definition Blend / blended whisky A mix of malt and grain whisky Blended malt (formerly vatted malt) A blend of single malt whiskies from one or more distilleries, containing no grain whisky Cask strength Bottled straight from the cask, without dilution to standard bottling strength Column still Continuous-distillation still, typical of American whiskey/grain whisky production Grain whisky Whisky made from grains other than malted barley, often produced in column stills Green malt Malted barley after germination, before kilning Grist Crushed malted barley, ready for mashing Kilning The drying stage of malting; peat can be introduced here for smoky flavour Malting floor Traditional floor where barley is spread and turned during germination Marrying Resting/blending whisky from different casks together before bottling Mash tun Vessel where grist is mixed with hot water to extract sugars Pot still Traditional copper still used by most Scotch distilleries Single cask Whisky from a single, individual cask Single malt Whisky from one distillery, made exclusively from malted barley Switcher blade Rotating blade mechanism in a washback that controls foam during fermentation Washback Fermentation vessel where wort and yeast become “wash” Wort The sugary liquid drained from the mash tun, before fermentation Worts receiver / underback Vessel that collects the wort as it drains from the mash tun
Term Definition American single malt 100% malted barley, follows Scotch-style rules but originates in the US Bourbon Must be at least 51% corn, aged in first-use charred oak casks Rye malt Like rye whiskey, but using malted rye Rye whiskey Mash of at least 51% rye Straight whiskey Aged at least 2 years Tennessee whiskey Bourbon-style regulations plus the Lincoln County Process (maple charcoal filtering) Wheat whiskey Mash of at least 51% wheat
Abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning ABV Alcohol By Volume DCL Distillers Company Limited LPA Litres of Pure Alcohol PX Pedro Ximenez (a type of Sherry cask) QA Quercus Alba (American white oak) SMD Scottish Malt Distillers UDV United Distillers & Vintners
Recurring companies and events
Term Definition Concordat (of Islay Distillers) 1987 agreement among Islay’s distillers ensuring shared access to Port Ellen’s maltings output Excise Act (1823) Legalized whisky distillation in Scotland Flora and fauna collection Diageo’s original single-malt bottling series The Pattison Crash Major whisky industry financial collapse The “Big Three” blenders John Walker & Sons, John Dewar & Sons, James Buchanan & Co
Recurring people
Name Known for Charles Doig Pagoda roof architect, appears across many distillery histories Elizabeth Cumming Ran Cardhu after her husband’s death; sold to John Walker & Sons in 1893 William Grant Founded Glenfiddich; also bought Cardow’s old stills
