Speyburn Distillery — Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Speyburn Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located near Rothes, Speyside, Scotland. It was founded in 1897 and is currently owned by Inver House Distillers (International Beverage). Speyburn is notable for its classic Charles Doig-designed pagoda roof and for being one of the best-selling single malts in the United States.

History

Speyburn was established in 1897 by John Hopkins & Company, a brandy merchant firm, at a cost of around £17,000. Hopkins chose a secluded site in a narrow valley on the Granty Burn, a small tributary of the River Spey, prized for its unpolluted water. He commissioned renowned distillery architect Charles C. Doig, whose pagoda-style kiln roof became a defining feature of Speyside distillery design and remains a Speyburn landmark today.

The proprietors were determined that the first spirit produced would carry the date 1897, marking Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Construction delays meant the stills did not run until 15 December 1897, and the still house still lacked doors and windows; distillery manager John Smith and his men worked through a snowstorm in overcoats to run off the first spirit and secure a single butt dated that year.

In 1916 the distillery passed to The Distillers Company Limited (DCL), later part of what became Diageo, under whose various successor companies it operated for most of the twentieth century. Inver House Distillers acquired Speyburn in 1991/1992, and it remains part of that group, which also owns Balblair, Balmenach, Knockdhu and Old Pulteney. Production capacity was doubled following an expansion completed in 2014. After operating for well over a century without public tours, Speyburn opened its doors to visitors for the first time in 2023, during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Quick Facts

• Region: Speyside
• Founded: 1897
• Owner: Inver House Distillers (International Beverage)
• Status: Active
• Stills: 1 wash still, 2 spirit stills

Core Range

Speyburn's core range centres on the entry-level Bradan Orach (Gaelic for "Golden Salmon"), matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 40% ABV, and the Speyburn 10 Year Old, matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks at 40% ABV (bottled at 46% ABV for travel retail). Older expressions include a 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old. In the United States, Inver House also releases the Speyburn Arranta Cask, matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46% ABV.