Speyside
Speyside (really part of the Highland region but universally acknowledged as a heartland of malt distillation). This area, between the cities of Inverness and Aberdeen, sweeps from granite mountains down to fertile countryside, where barley is among the crops. It is the watershed of a system of rivers, the principal among which is the Spey. Although it is not precisely defined, Speyside is commonly agreed to extend at least from the River Findhorn in the west to the Deveron in the east. Within this region are several other rivers, notably the Livet.
The Speyside single malts are noted in general for their elegance and complexity, and often a refined smokiness. Within Speyside, the River Livet is so famous that its name is borrowed by some whiskies from far beyond its glen. Only one may call itself The Glenlivet, only Braes of Glenlivet and Tamnavulin are produced in the valley, and only Tomintoul in the parish. These are all delicate malts, and it could be more tentatively argued that other valleys have malts that share certain characteristics.
