The Lowlands whisky region covers the land from the border of Scotland up to the midriff of the country that runs between its two major cities: Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The whisky produced in this region was once notoriously considered so terrible that it helped the black market trade in illicit whisky distilled in the Highlands to boom.

Over the centuries it grew into a thriving whisky region of its own, although distillery closures since the early 1980s have seen many great distilleries sadly lost from this underrated southern region of Scotland.

Typically thought of as light, elegant, grassy and delicate spirits, well suited as aperitifs. This image is perhaps oversimplifying the region a little. The more robust oily and waxy notes of St Magdalene or the fatty fruitiness of Rosebank and the citrus-driven buttery qualities of Bladoch all speak of a region that has given us some great, idiosyncratic distillates with real personality.

The lightness we often associate with this region is championed today by Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie who's more delicate, grassy, cereal complexities match well with the region's stylings.