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.

Map
  • Region
    Speyside
  • Production type
    Single malt
  • Distillery Status
    Working

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

Current owner

Previous owners

Contact

Address
Speyburn Distillery
Rothes
Moray
AB38 7AG
United Kingdom
Phone
+44 1340 831213
Visitor Opening Hours
Not open to the public

Map

See also

  • Balblair Balblair Balblair Distillery & brand

    Balblair

    One of the prettiest distilleries.

  • Balmenach Balmenach Balmenach Distillery & brand

    Balmenach

    One of Speyside’s traditional sites.

  • Knockdhu Knockdhu Knockdhu Distillery & brand

    Knockdhu

    Producer of Ancnoc single malt.

  • Pulteney Pulteney Pulteney Distillery

    Pulteney

    Home to the Old Pulteney single malt.

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