Balblair
One of the prettiest distilleries.
Speyburn
Distillery & brand
Tradition and innovation are regular bedfellows in the world of single malt and Speyburn is a classic example. Its parent, Inver House Distillers, is a believer in the old way of making whisky and has kept the distillery pretty much the same as when it was first designed by Charles Doig [see below].
Speyburn distillery
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Speyburn's stillhouse is the same (albeit now with steam driven stills) and the worm tubs have been retained. Like most worm sites this method of condensing produces a deliberately sulphury new make [see Knockdhu, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie] which changes in cask to reveal the singular delicate, fragrant character which lies underneath.
Speyburn History
Located in a tight little glen opposite Glen Grant, Speyburn started operation in 1897 and was one of a number of distilleries designed by local architect Charles Doig (the inventor of the distillery pagoda, for most people the defining feature of any plant). The pagoda was originally built to help ventilate the distillery’s kiln. It would have worked hard as Doig also installed the first ‘pneumatic’ (drum) maltings in the Highlands on site, allowing Speyburn’s production not to be tied to the size of its malting floors. These stayed in use at Speyburn until 1968.
Like many distilleries it was absorbed into Scottish Malt Distillers (the malt arm of DCL) but changed hands in 1991 becoming part of Inver House.
In recent years, Speyburn has been marketed as a value for money malt in the US. While this has resulted in large volumes in terms of sales, the price pot hasn’t helped the whisky’s reputation. Strangely for a top-10 malt brand, it is still unknown to most of the world and probably under-appreciated where it’s a best-seller.
Timeline
- 1897 John and Edward Hopkins found the Speyburn distillery through company John Hopkin & Co
- 1916 DCL takes over the company and distillery
- 1930 The distillery falls silent for four years
- 1968 Speyburn's drum maltings are closed
- 1991 Inver House Distillers buys Speyburn
- 2001 Pacific Spirits acquires Inver House for $85m
- 2006 International Beverage Holdings buys out Pacific Spirits UK
- 2012 Clan Speyburn, an online fan community for the brand, is formed
Speyburn Facts
-
- Capacity (mlpa) i
- 1.9
-
- Condenser Type i
- Worm tub
-
- Fermentation Time i
- 48hrs
-
- Filling Strength i
- 69.3%
-
- Grist Weight (t) i
- 5.6
-
- Heat Source i
- Steam
-
- Malt Specification i
- Unpeated
-
- Malt Supplier i
- Varies
-
- Mash Tun Type i
- Semi lauter
-
- New-make Strength i
- 69.3%
-
- Spirit Still Charge (l) i
- 11,500
-
- Spirit Still Shape i
- Onion
-
- Spirit Still Size (l) i
- 15,500
-
- Stills i
- 2
-
- Warehousing i
- Dunnage
-
- Wash Still Charge (l) i
- 12,500
-
- Wash Still Shape i
- Onion
-
- Wash Still Size (l) i
- 17,500
-
- Washback Charge (l) i
- 25,000
-
- Washback Size (l) i
- 35,000
-
- Washback Type i
- Wood
-
- Washbacks i
- 6
-
- Water Source i
- Granty Burn
-
- Wort Clarity i
- Varies
-
- Yeast Type i
- Distiller's cream
Owners
Parent company
- International Beverage Holdings 2006 - present
Current owner
- Inver House Distillers 1991 - present
Previous owners
- United Distillers 1986 - 1991
- Distillers Company Limited 1916 - 1986
- John Hopkins & Co 1897 - 1916
Contact
- Address
-
Speyburn Distillery
Rothes
Moray
AB38 7AG
United Kingdom - Phone
- +44 1340 831213
- Visitor Opening Hours
- Not open to the public
Map