From the sixth century to the mid-nineteenth century, scotch whisky was largely unknown outside of Scotland and England. There was no whisky industry as such, and each laird probably had a still that supplied neighbours and a little outside trade. No doubt, the Scotch Whisky of those years was harsh and smoky, imbued with the taste of peat (a kind of pre-coal consisting of partially carbonized vegetable matter, largely heather, formed in bogs).In 1853, Andrew Usher began to blend Scotch whisky for sale. Britannia then ruled the world, or at least much of it, and the demand for a taste of home far exceeded any supply the malt distilleries could provide. He mixed malt spirit with grain whisky and produced a lighter, less expensive, more consistent, and significantly larger supply of whisky. Usher also used a vastly more efficient continuous or patent still instead of the old fashioned pot still. There are four regions of whisky production in Scotland....The Lowlands located in the south, just below Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although most Lowlands scotch whisky goes into blends, the single malts are light, delicate, fruity, and lack the smoke of peat and smack of sea that characterise their cousins to the north.... Campbeltown This region is located on a peninsula on the west coast. only two operating distilleries remain, but one , Springbank, is thought to be among Scotland's best. The sea exerts a strong influence on Campbeltown's Scotch Whisky...Islay this island just north of Campbeltown commands a view of Northern Ireland. Eight distilleries make single malts here that are known for their heft and pungency, their strong flavours of peat, smoke, seaweed, and brine. The Scotch Whisky Laphroaig and Ardberg, can be unbelievable.....The Highlands being the largest district is home to the majority of distilleries. It includes cities such as  Aberdeen and Perth and stretches north to the Orkney Islands. As a single malt producer, it deserves to be segmented more precisely, as a single malt producer they are full of flavours of peat, and on the coasts, the sea. It is thought to be the finest area in Scotland - and thus the world - for creating Scotch Whisky. A web of rivers, including the Spey, Avon, Findhorn, Fiddich, and Livet, carrying pure waters from springs and lochs, crisscross the region. As noted each provenance also comes in a number of ages. Bladnoch (Lowlands), Bowmore (Islay), Clynelish (Northern Highlands), Cragannmore (Speyside), Dalwhinnie (Central Highlands), Deanston (Southern Highlands), Glenfarcas (Speyside), Glenlivet (Speyside), Glenmorangie (Northern Highlands), Highland Park (Orkney Island), Isle of Jura (Jura Island), Longmorn (Speyside), The Macallan (Speyside), Oban (Western Highlands), Springbank (Campbeltown), Talisker (Skye Island), and Tobermory (Mull Island). This is a small sampling offer of a broad range of style and regions, and do not forget the traditional Scot's toast is pronounced SHLAN-jer. Slainte!