After over a century of operating behind closed doors, Speyburn distillery will open to visitors for the first time in Spring 2023. Based in Rothes, near Aberlour, Speyburn was founded in 1897 and celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.
While not quite as famous as some of its celebrated Speyside neighbours, Speyburn is still a large and productive distillery in its own right, with an output of over 4 million litres of whisky annually. Historically Speyburn has been a contributing malt in many well-known blends. However, recent years have seen it grow in standing as a single malt, particularly in the USA where it sells around half a million bottles per year.
In celebration of their landmark anniversary, Speyburn will be offering behind the scenes tours and tastings to the public for the first time. Those visiting the distillery will be able to admire the distillery’s many original, Victorian features alongside modern equipment that were introduced as part of a recent £5 million expansion.
One of the remaining original features is the steam-powered drum malting system. Though not used since the 1960s, it was revolutionary for its time, being significantly more efficient than the traditional floor malting system. In keeping with the distillery’s innovative past, one of its modern features is a thermal vapour recovery system introduced in 2015, which helps reduce emissions.
Speyburn are also planning to release a limited edition single cask whisky to coincide with both their anniversary and the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, and will be featured as part of the tasting session during this unique tour.
With a 125 year history Speyburn is no doubt a distillery with many stories to tell, and these open days present a rare and exciting opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to get an insight into one of Speyside’s lesser known gems.
Speyburn’s 125th anniversary celebrations are part of the wider Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival that runs from 26th April to 1st May. For more information on this and any of the other events visit the Spirit of Speyside website.