The Classic Malts of Scotland[1][2][3][4][5] is a selection of six single malt whiskies, launched and marketed together in 1988 by United Distillers and Vintners which is now owned by Diageo. They are often displayed together in bars and liquor stores. Diageo has since marketed other single malt labels and expressions with the Classic Malts labeling. The six original malts are:
Whisky | Age | Alc. % | Region |
---|---|---|---|
Glenkinchie | 10 years | 43% | Lowland |
Dalwhinnie | 15 years | 43% | Highland |
Cragganmore | 12 years | 40% | Speyside |
Oban | 14 years | 43% | West Highland |
Talisker | 10 years | 45.8% | Isle of Skye |
Lagavulin | 16 years | 43% | Islay |
UDV's regions differ from the more conventional categorisations of Highland (and subregion Island), Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown, and Islay. The region of West Highland was created to separate between Oban and Dalwhinnie. Talisker is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye, which has never been a whisky region unto itself,[6] but would be in the Island subregion; though this categorisation enabled UDV to include both Talisker and Lagavulin, strongly flavoured malts with strong followings. Campbeltown, a formerly prominent whisky-making region, is not featured in the range.