Speyburn 14 Years Old 2007 Cask #HL 18986 (Old Malt Cask)

A Speyburn single malt, selected and bottled by Hunter Laing, a 14 year old Speyside malt from 2007, drawn from cask HL 18986 and bottled at 50%. Just 612 bottles were filled. Speyburn was established in 1897 in the Glen of Rothes on Speyside; it remains one of Speyside's prettiest distilleries. Water comes from the Granty Burn, a clear tributary of the Spey.

Distilled in classic Speyside onion stills and condensed in traditional worm tubs, giving the fragrant, rounded spirit at its heart. Ex-Sherry wood suited the make, adding a dried fruit richness. By this age the fresh spirit rounds into heather honey and orchard fruit. Years in oak round the spirit, the honey and orchard fruit deepening with age. Hopkins also owned Tobermory on Mull when he built Speyburn in 1897. The cool Speyside glen gives a slow, even maturation in dunnage warehouses.

At a hearty 50% it carries real weight. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and the refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with apple, pear and heather honey. It is fragrant and deep, the fruit and oak well matched. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is a clean, fruity malt from the heart of Speyside.