Distilleries of Scotland

Scotland is home to around 100 malt and grain distilleries,making it the greatest concentration in the world.The term whisky comes from the Gaelic 'uisge beatha' or 'usquebaugh' meaning water of life.Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for hundreds of years.There is some evidence to show that the art of distilling could have been brought to the country by Christian missionary monks,or simply that Highland farmers discovered how to distil spirits from their surplus barley.Malt whisky is usually classified into five categories - Highland,Lowland,Speyside,Islay and Campbeltown,according to the geographical location of the distillery.The geography and climate of each region play an important role and influence on the character of the whisky produced there.

Clans and Tartans

The most distinctive feature of Scotland's history,nationally and internationally,is probably that of clanship and the predominantly Highland clans.Highland dress and the tartan is a powerful symbol of the wearer's pride in a Scotish ancestry and in Scotland itself.Few,if any,other forms of national dress make such a clear statement or are so instantly recognisable worldwide.Tartan,in its original form,was a rough woolen cloth worn as a plaid,and had the highly practical function of providing warmth and shelter from the harsh Scotish weather.
In 1747,shortly after the Jacobite rebellion,the Dress Act forbade the wearing of tartan,with offenders receiving a punishment of six months imprisonment or transportation.Scotsmen were made to swear an oath pledging their compliance with the law:"I do swear...as I shall swear to God at the great day of judgement,that I have not,nor shall I have in my possession,any gun,sword,pistol,or arm whatsoever,and never use any tartan,plaid,or any piece of highland garb."

Scotish Castles

Scotland is a land of castles-its turbulent history has left a legacy of them across the nation.Over the years,a number of them have been reduced to ruims or have all but disappeared from view.It could be argued that Scotland's colourful history is set in stone - in the very walls of the castles which bore witness to the centuries of conflict and bloodshed,with these buildings often the backdrop for royal intrigue,murder,conspiracies,imprisonment and other dark deeds.