The The

Single
Single
Malt
Malt
Whisky
Whisky
Fl avour
Fl avour
Map Map

Medicinal,
MMedicinal,
iciendaicl,idry
edM ndarly,dry
smoke
ryosmoke
dsm skm ppeerpypneersysnessS M
epepperyness
opkepepepperyness SO K YK Y PuPungent
MO nPgeuPungent
ntosmoky,
nntgsem y,osmoky,
skm pkeya, tpeaty
pyeraitpeaty
cyhnrrichness
iecshsnrichness
ess

Ardbeg
Ardbeg
10 10
Laphroaig
Laphroaig
10 10 Lagavulin
Lagavulin
16 16
ripeness
ripeness

Dried fruit, sherry richness

Dried fruit, sherry richness
fruitripeness
fruitripeness

Caol Caol
Ila 12Ila 12 Lagavulin
Lagavulin
Distillers
Distillers
Talisker
Talisker
10 10 Edition
Edition
fruit
fruit

Bowmore
Bowmore
12 12 Talisker
Talisker
18 18
stewed
stewed
stewed
stewed

Highland
Highland
Park Park
12 12
Spiced,
Spiced,
Leafy,
Leafy,

Cragganmore
Cragganmore
12 12
ObanOban
14 14 Cragganmore
Cragganmore
LIGHT
LIGHT

RICH
RICH
Distillers
Distillers
Bruichladdich
Bruichladdich
15 15 Edition
Edition
Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie
15 15
Clynelish
Clynelish
14 14 Singleton
Singleton
of of
Cardhu
Cardhu
12 12 Dufftown
Dufftown
12 12
GlenGlen
ElginElgin
12 12 Macallan
Macallan
10 10
RoyalRoyal
Lochnagar
Lochnagar
12 12
crispness
crispness

Glenkinchie
Glenkinchie
12 12 Glenkinchie
Glenkinchie
Distillers
Distillers
Edition
Edition

Spiced, woody complexity

Spiced, woody complexity
citruscrispness
citruscrispness

Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie
10 10
Glenlivet
Glenlivet
12 12
fruit,citrus
fruit,citrus

Jura Jura
10 10 Aberlour
Aberlour
10 10
Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich
12 12
Fresh fruit,
Fresh fruit,

Bunnahabhain
Bunnahabhain
12 12
Knockando
Knockando
12 12
Scapa
Scapa
14 14
Fresh
Fresh

Floral,
FFloral,
lorFaherbal,
l,orhaeherbal,
lr,bhaelgrassy
r, bgaralgrassy yshfrneesshsness D E
,sgsfreshness
yrafsrsefreshness DLEI LCIA
CTAET E Nutty,
tyu, barley,
NutNutty,
N bttayr,lbarley,
bleiys,cubiscuity
ebya,rbiscuity bitsycussubtleness
iutbytslsubtleness
eunbetslesness

Malts with
Maltsthis
with
shape
this symbol
shape symbol
are part
areofpart
the CofLASSIC
the CMLASSIC
ALTS Selection
MALTS Selection
ownedowned
by Diageo
by Diageo
Scotland
Scotland
Limited.
Limited. Malts with
Maltsthis
with
shape
this symbol
shape symbol
are notare
part
not
ofpart
the CofLASSIC
the CMLASSIC
ALTS Selection
MALTS Selection
The colours
The colours
relate to
relate
the regional
to the regional
map ofmap
Scotland
of Scotland
on the on
inside
the cover
inside cover
How to use the Flavour Map
The Flavour Map makes it easy to identify where the subtle similarities
and distinct differences can be found, so you can explore the whisky
landscape with confidence.
On the vertical axis, whiskies are plotted as to how smoky or delicate they
are, while the horizontal axis plots whiskies on their light or rich qualities.
If, for example, you love Royal Lochnagar (both light and delicate) you
might enjoy the nuances of Glen Elgin or Dalwhinnie. Or for a complete
contrast, go for a malt from the other side of the map, such as the smoky
and rich Lagavulin.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or trying to buy a gift for a friend,
think of the map as a starting point for new discoveries. By all means
go straight from A-Z, but it’s much more fun if you meander a little.
The important thing is to enjoy the journey.

A Guide to Flavours
The Flavour Map plots single malts on two axes. This means it’s easy to
see where a whisky sits based on its characteristics.

Light
This end of the vertical axis houses whiskies whose characteristics
exhibit fresh flavours: green grass, soft fruits, cereal. Such flavours
tend to reflect the processes followed by a distillery, such as
fermentation or size and shape of the stills.
Smoky
Single malts found in the two smoky quadrants all contain discernible
levels of peat, which is burned in the malting process. Ranging from
scented smoke and bonfires, to kippers and lapsang souchong, they’re
epitomised by Islay malts such as Lagavulin and Caol Ila.

Rich
Whiskies at the rich end of the axis contain characteristics often
derived from the nature of the wood used during maturation.
Typical flavours range from vanilla (given by American oak casks)
to nuttiness to cigar box, chocolate and dried fruit (from European
oak casks). Whether a cask is first fill or refill will make a difference
to flavour.
Delicate
The whiskies at this end of the axis normally use no peat in the
malting process. While movement up the axis sees an increase in
complexity, this is without any discernible level of smokiness derived
by peat. Towards the light end there is a floral, grassy freshness.
Moving towards the richer side of the map, subtler nutty, barley and
biscuity flavours start to come through.

The Flavour Map has been prepared and endorsed by the independent whisky expert, Dave Broom, together with Diageo Scotland Limited. The Flavour Map features many brands of malt
whisky, some of which are owned by and are registered trademarks of Diageo Scotland Limited and some of which are owned by (and may be registered trademarks of ) other companies.
In addition to the names of individual distilleries listed on the Flavour Map, the Classic Malts words, the Quaich device, the Flavour Map device and associated logos are trademarks.