THE LOWLANDS
I hope you’ve washed your boots and dried off your jackets, it’s time to discover another two of Scotland’s world-renowned whisky regions and, first up, it’s the Lowlands.
If you venture north on foot from England, lured by the poetic brogues, flowing red locks and sweet smell of whisky, you may well step over Hadrian’s Wall – built by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago.
It’s a prominent and visible reminder of where industrious Northern England ends and rolls into the sweeping valleys of the Lowlands. Welcome to Scotland.
Glenkinchie
In the past, the Lowlands was a region flushed with distilleries and an abundance of great whisky. Alas, Glenkinchie is now cherished as one of the few remaining gems of a once rich whisky region.
Contrary to popular belief, the distillery was not established by a kimchi-loving Scot called Glen. This is, however, a useful trick for mastering the pronunciation with an authentic Scottish lilt.
Glenkinchie is a Scots mis-pronunciation, or colloquialised way, of describing the valley belonging to the De Quincey family. The distillery is set in rich farmland aside the Kinchie Burn, an imposing red brick building that houses a wonderful museum and the largest whisky stills in mainland Scotland.