Speyburn Single Cask 21 Years Old 1978

This official Speyburn single malt, a 21 year old Speyside malt from 1978, drawn from cask 2713 and bottled at 60.1%. Speyburn, first built in 1897 on the northern edge of Rothes in Speyside, was designed by the pagoda architect Charles Doig. Inver House runs it alongside Old Pulteney, Balblair and anCnoc.

The spirit was run through onion shaped stills and worm tub condensers for a rounded make, to build a clean, orchard fruit character. Ex-Sherry wood suited the make, adding a dried fruit richness. Past eighteen years the spirit turns rich and honeyed while keeping its fruit. Worm tub condensing gives a fuller, faintly sulphury new make that matures into a delicate, fragrant fruit. 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.

Bottled at a cask strength 60.1%, it is rich. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and fragrant honey and ripe fruit meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and vanilla sit behind the sweetness. A fruity, gently spiced finish lingers long. This is an easy going, honeyed Speyside malt.