Scotch Whisky Association
Encyclopedia
The Scotch Whisky Association is a trade organisation that represents the Scotch whisky
industry. The Scotch whisky industry is an important part of the Scottish economy
, and particularly the Scottish export market.
, just off the A8, with another office in London
.
Of these, Diageo and the Edrington Group are the largest.
, it also promotes responsible drinking, with campaigns to curb drinking to excess.
There are over 2,500 brands of Scotch whisky around the world. The SWA's members represent over 95% of Scotch whisky production.
There are four areas in Scotland with distinguishing types of whisky:
Highland Malts and Grain Whisky are produced all over Scotland.
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
industry. The Scotch whisky industry is an important part of the Scottish economy
Economy of Scotland
The economy of Scotland is closely linked with the rest of the United Kingdom and the wider European Economic Area. Scotland has the second largest GVA per capita of countries in the United Kingdom after England, though it is still lower than the average of the United Kingdom as a whole...
, and particularly the Scottish export market.
Structure
The main office of the SWA is in the West End of EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, just off the A8, with another office in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Membership
Members include:- Beam Global Spirits & Wine
- DiageoDiageoDiageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
- John Dewar & Sons
- Drambuie Liqueur CompanyDrambuieDrambuie is a sweet, golden colored 80-proof liqueur made from malt whisky, honey, herbs, and spices.Produced in Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland, it is served straight, on the rocks, or added to mixed drinks such as the Rusty Nail....
- The Edrington GroupThe Edrington GroupThe Edrington Group Limited is a major Scotch whisky company involved in blending, bottling, distributing and marketing. It produces several well-known brands, including The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, and premium single malts The Macallan and Highland Park...
- William Grant & SonsWilliam Grant & SonsWilliam Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned Scottish company which distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is now run by the descendants of the founder. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky...
- John HaigHaig (whisky)-History:The dimpled bottle was then introduced in the 1890s. This bottle became so well-known and important to the brand that it was registered as a trademark in the USA in 1958 by Julius Lunsford....
- Highland DistillersHighland DistillersHighland Distillers was founded in 1887 by the Robertson family. In 1970 Highland purchased Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., producers of the Famous Grouse blended whisky and acquired The Macallan single malt Scotch producers in 1996. Highland also produced the Highland Park brand whisky. Highland...
- Scotch Malt Whisky Society
- William Teacher & SonsTeacher's Highland CreamTeacher's Highland Cream is a brand of blended scotch whisky produced in Glasgow by the American company Beam Inc.In 1830, William Teacher took advantage of the new "Excise Act" and began selling his blended scotch. From 1832 he was selling it from his wife's grocery shop in Glasgow...
- John Walker & SonsJohnnie WalkerJohnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.-History:Originally known as Walker's...
Of these, Diageo and the Edrington Group are the largest.
Purpose
Its stated purpose is to promote, protect and represent the interests of the whisky industry in Scotland and around the world. Similar to the Portman GroupPortman Group
The Portman Group is a trade group composed of alcoholic beverage producers and brewers in the UK.-History:It was set up in 1989 as part of a campaign to raise awareness of alcohol-related issues, and its members account for the majority of alcohol products sold in the UK...
, it also promotes responsible drinking, with campaigns to curb drinking to excess.
History
It was formed on 17 April 1942. It became a limited company in 1960.There are over 2,500 brands of Scotch whisky around the world. The SWA's members represent over 95% of Scotch whisky production.
There are four areas in Scotland with distinguishing types of whisky:
- Lowland MaltsLowland Single MaltsLowland Single Malts are single malt whiskies distilled in the lowlands of Scotland.The region now only has three currently producing distilleries: Glenkinchie, near Edinburgh; Auchentoshan, near Clydebank; and Bladnoch in Galloway....
- Speyside MaltsSpeyside Single MaltsSpeyside single malts are single malt Scotch whiskies, distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland....
- Islay MaltsIslay whiskyIslay whisky is Scotch whisky made on Islay or Ìle in Gaelic, the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast of Scotland. There are eight active distilleries on the island, as of early 2008, with a ninth being made ready for production...
- CampbeltownCampbeltown Single MaltsCampbeltown Single Malts are single malt Scotch whiskies distilled in the burgh of Campbeltown, on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. Once a major producer of whisky with as many as 28 distilleries, and claiming the title "whisky capital of the world", production has markedly declined...
Highland Malts and Grain Whisky are produced all over Scotland.