Speyburn Kentucky

This official Speyburn single malt and bottled at 40%. Set on the northern edge of Rothes in Speyside, Speyburn has distilled since 1897. 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. Maturation came in American oak, with vanilla under the orchard fruit. With no age statement, it shows a fresh, fruity body and a honeyed lift. Worm tub condensing gives a fuller, faintly sulphury new make that matures into a delicate, fragrant fruit. The classic onion stills and worm tubs give a fresh yet rounded Speyside spirit. Hopkins also owned Tobermory on Mull when he built Speyburn in 1897. The cool Speyside glen gives a slow, even maturation in dunnage warehouses. Bradan Orach, the distillery's youngest core malt, is Gaelic for golden salmon.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded. A fresh, fruity sweetness meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath it run apple, honey and a soft spice. The close is soft, fruit over gentle oak. This is a classic, fruity Speyside single malt.