Speyburn Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 2 days ago
Speyburn is built into a steep valley in Rothes, with a pagoda roof and a founder who raced the clock to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Here is its history, owner, range and awards.
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Speyburn at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified information |
|---|---|
Location | Rothes, Granty Burn valley, Speyside |
Established | 1897, John Hopkins |
Owner | Inver House Distillers / International Beverage |
Region | Speyside, Scotland |
Principal single malt range | Speyburn Bourbon Cask; Speyburn 10 Year Old; Speyburn 15 Year Old; Speyburn 18 Year Old |
Visiting | Visitor experiences introduced in 2023; check availability and booking |
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Speyburn history, people and production
Where is Speyburn distillery?
Speyburn is in Rothes, in Moray, in the Speyside region of Scotland. Its water comes from the Granty Burn, a minor tributary of the River Spey that runs through a narrow, secluded valley.
Speyburn history: the Diamond Jubilee race
Speyburn was founded in 1897 by John Hopkins and Company, for the sum of 17,000 pounds, according to Wikipedia. The official site describes Hopkins as an already successful brandy merchant who chose the Granty Burn site for its pure water. He hired the architect Charles C. Doig, who designed the distillery over three levels to fit the steep valley. Its pagoda ventilator, a Doig hallmark, is still there.
Hopkins wanted the first fillings to carry the date 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Production was scheduled to begin on 1 November 1897, but delays meant the stills did not run until later, with the still house still without doors and windows. The manager, John Smith, oversaw the first spirit in a violent snow storm. Sources differ on the exact day: Wikipedia says the stills ran on 15 December, while the official site says the first drop ran on Christmas Day and the first cask was filled before midnight on the last night of the year. Either way, one butt was bonded bearing the date 1897.
Speyburn timeline from the official site
1916: the distillery was sold to The Distillers Company Limited.
1939: it closed for the Second World War and housed two Scottish artillery regiments.
1947: it reopened after the war.
1950: tractors replaced horse and cart.
1962: coal fired stills were replaced with indirect steam heating.
1967: the distillery's drum malting ceased operation.
1992: it was sold to Inver House Distillers.
2014: production capacity was doubled.
2023: the distillery opened its doors to visitors for the first time, for its 125th anniversary and the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.
Who owns Speyburn?
Speyburn is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, trading as International Beverage. Its other distilleries are Old Pulteney, Knockdhu, Balblair and Balmenach.
Speyburn awards
World Whiskies Awards 2019: Speyburn 15 Year Old, gold.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020: 10 Year Old, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old, gold; Arranta Casks, silver.
International Wine and Spirits Competition 2019: Arranta Casks, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old, silver.
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2019: Arranta Casks and 15 Year Old, 95 points each.
New York World Spirits Competition: Speyburn named Speyside Distillery of the Year.
Speyburn whisky expressions compared
These distillery expressions have been documented in producer catalogues or specialist sources. Limited editions, vintages and market strengths are not interchangeable. Whisky Clan has not independently tasted or rated every bottle in this table.
Named whisky expression | Age | Listed ABV | Maturation / release |
|---|---|---|---|
Speyburn Bourbon Cask | NAS | 40% | Bourbon-seasoned oak casks |
Speyburn 10 Year Old | 10 years | 40% | American oak ex-bourbon and selected casks |
Speyburn 15 Year Old | 15 years | 46% | Bourbon and sherry cask combination |
Speyburn 18 Year Old | 18 years | 46% | American and Spanish oak maturation |
Speyburn Rum Cask Finish | NAS | 40% | Bourbon oak maturation and rum cask finish |
Speyburn featured whisky bottle
An example of a named distillery bottling. Label and packaging can change between releases and markets.
How does Speyburn whisky taste?
The distillery's reported character is influenced by its stills, fermentation, oak and age. Exact nose, palate and finish notes depend on the named bottle, age and cask; consult the official source for the release before treating a style description as an individual tasting review.
Limited bottles, awards and collector information
Limited editions, festival bottlings and older single casks can appear under the same distillery name. The bottle table distinguishes established expressions from historic or less widely available releases. Award claims should always be tied to a named expression, competition and year; none are implied for the entire range here.
Where to buy Speyburn whisky
Availability, pricing, bottle formats and distribution vary between the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe. The official catalogue linked below is the best starting point for identifying a whisky, but no live retailer stock is guaranteed.
Visiting Speyburn Distillery
Visitor experiences introduced in 2023; check availability and booking.
More Speyside distillery guides
Explore the styles and histories of other distilleries we've covered at Whisky Clan.
Glendullan: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Dufftown: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Aberlour: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Craigellachie: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Glenfarclas: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
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More distilleries in Speyside Scotland
Discover other distilleries in this producing region.
Frequently asked questions about Speyburn
Who owns Speyburn Distillery?
Inver House Distillers / International Beverage.
Where is Speyburn located?
Rothes, Granty Burn valley, Speyside.
When was Speyburn founded?
1897, John Hopkins.
Can visitors tour Speyburn?
Visitor experiences introduced in 2023; check availability and booking.
What whisky expressions does Speyburn produce?
Its documented bottlings and release details are listed in this guide. They may vary by market.
Sources and image credits
Featured photograph: existing Speyburn distillery photograph from Whisky Clan's original site media. Please contact Whisky Clan with any additional attribution details or corrections.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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