Speyburn 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #552 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Single malt Speyburn, an independent Gordon & MacPhail bottling, a 15 year old Speyside malt from 2008, drawn from cask 552 and bottled at 60.2%. Only 644 bottles were released. Speyburn was opened in 1897 by John Hopkin and Company on the northern edge of Rothes in Speyside; it is now an Inver House Speyside malt. Charles Doig, inventor of the distillery pagoda, designed it, and his ventilator still tops the stillhouse.

The spirit was run through onion shaped stills and worm tub condensers for a rounded make, to build a clean, orchard fruit character. A sherry cask wrapped the fruity spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Around twelve to sixteen years the malt gains a fuller honey over the fruit. Worm tub condensing gives a fuller, faintly sulphury new make that matures into a delicate, fragrant fruit.

At a natural 60.2% it is full and fruity. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and a fresh, fruity sweetness meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. It is fresh and clean, the fruity spirit shining through. It closes long, fruity and honeyed. This is a classic, fruity Speyside single malt.