Speyburn 24 Years Old 1991 (Connoisseurs Choice)

This is a Speyburn single malt, chosen and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail matured to 24 year old from 1991 and bottled at 46%. Set in a sheltered Speyside glen by the Granty Burn, Speyburn has distilled since 1897. Inver House runs it alongside Old Pulteney, Balblair and anCnoc.

Distilled on Granty Burn water through onion stills with worm tubs, building the classic Speyside style it is loved for. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the fresh character to the fore. Beyond eighteen years the malt grows deep and honeyed, dried fruit and oak spice over orchard fruit. The worm tub weight carries cask flavour while keeping the Speyside finesse. Bradan Orach, the distillery's youngest core malt, is Gaelic for golden salmon. Speyburn sits in a wooded glen on the edge of Rothes, one of Speyside's prettiest distilleries. Charles Doig, who designed it, invented the pagoda roof now seen across Scotch distilleries. It was the first Scottish distillery fitted with drum maltings, still preserved on site.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Fragrant honey and ripe fruit meet honeyed oak sweetness underneath. A ripe pear and a gentle spice lift it. It finishes clean, fresh and fruity. This is an easy going, honeyed Speyside malt.