Isle of Arran Distillers is one of the newest distilleries in Scotland. Established as recently as 1995, the distillery is already worthy of high regard.

Arran only use traditional methods of distilling with wooden washbacks and copper stills designed to exact specifications. The location offers perfect water for whisky production, cleansed by granite and softened by peat as it comes down from the mountain above. The atmosphere of sea breezes and clear mountain air together with the warm flow of the Gulf Stream matures the Arran Malt to perfection in earth floored warehouses.

Pronounced: “ock-en-tosh-an” the Auchentoshan Distillery dates back to 1823. Nestling at the foot of the Old Kilpatrick Hills in Dunbartonshire, it stood guard on the Clyde. While the precious malt within matured, an endless procession of maritime traffic travelled to and fro on the Clyde.

Time saw sailing ships and cargo steamers give way to the grand old ocean going dames like the Queen Mary and the QE2 but throughout the unique distilling process remained unchanged. Auchentoshan is triple distilled which gives it its smooth style.

The famous Bowmore vaults are where Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky spends nearly all of its life. For many decades it rests quietly in the damp cellars below sea level. The Spanish and American Oak Casks impart rich and mellow flavours to the maturing whisky.

Peat, barley, water, yeast, people and tradition combine to create the subtle, warm and smoky character of Bowmore Islay Single Malt Whisky.

Cadenhead’s is Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, established in 1842. Only a small handful of distilleries still remain in the ownership of their founding families and even fewer of the bottling companies remain active; William Cadenhead is one of the notable survivors. Cadenhead is also probably the only company in the world that holds extensive stocks of old matured-in-oak Demerara Rum.

Springbank is a standout distillery that features in every whisky lover’s top ten malts. Springbank was built in 1828 and is still in the ownership of descendants of its founder. The original buildings are still in use, as are its floor maltings and cast iron mash tun. Springbank is one of the few distilleries to do their own bottling on site. In short it is the most traditional of distilleries.

From the same distillery comes Longrow and Hazelburn. Longrow is double distilled from heavily peated malt. In its peatiness, oiliness and brineyness, and sense of restrained power, Longrow is rapidly developing a cult following. Hazelburn is triple distilled and without peat for a smooth but still complex whisky.

The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. was founded in 1992 by Brian Crook.His aim was to produce a range of malt whiskies from Scotland's finest distilleries and to make them available to independent wine and spirit importers throughout the world.