Speyburn Distillery

Speyburn was established in 1897 by John Hopkins & Company — founded by brothers John and Edward Hopkins and cousin Edward Broughton — at a total cost of £17,000. John Hopkins personally selected the site in the steep Rothes valley and commissioned Charles C. Doig, who had already designed dozens of Scotland's finest distilleries, to create a building that worked with rather than against the challenging topography. The result was an ingenious three-storey design that used gravity to move materials through the production process, with Doig's signature pagoda roof emerging above the tree line.

Hopkins nursed an ambition to produce a cask of whisky before the end of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year of 1897. He achieved this — barely. First production commenced on 15 December 1897, the still house partially unfinished and workers reportedly wearing their coats against the cold as the season's snow fell outside. A single butt of spirit was produced in time to be dated 1897, fulfilling the promise.

In 1897 Speyburn also became the first malt whisky distillery in Scotland to install one of Henning's Pneumatic Drum Maltings — a mechanised alternative to labour-intensive traditional floor maltings. The drum maltings were mothballed in 1967 but remain perfectly preserved on site, serving as a museum to the industrial history of Speyside malting.

Inver House Distillers acquired Speyburn as part of its portfolio. After more than 125 years of closed-door operation — unusual even by the standards of Scotland's less visitor-oriented distilleries — Speyburn opened to the public for the first time in 2022, offering year-round tours.

Speyburn operates with one wash still and two spirit stills. Annual production capacity stands at approximately 4.1 million litres of pure alcohol. Water is drawn from the Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey, which provides exceptionally soft and pure water that contributes directly to the distillery's light, clean spirit character. The preserved 1897 Pneumatic Drum Maltings remain on site as a heritage feature, though malt is now sourced externally.

Speyburn is a classic light, clean Speyside single malt. The Granty Burn water and the distillery's careful production create a fresh, approachable style: green apple, heather honey, and gentle Speyside spice on the nose; a smooth, medium-bodied palate with vanilla and cereal sweetness; a clean, gently warming finish. The Bourbon Cask expression emphasises the vanilla and caramel notes; the Rum Cask Finish introduces tropical notes of banana and brown sugar over the clean Speyside base. The 15 Year Old adds additional depth and roundness from extended maturation.

Speyburn opened to visitors for the first time in 2022 and now offers public tours year-round. Tours run Tuesday to Saturday at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm, each lasting approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. The tour covers the historic Old Drum Maltings (preserved since 1967), the full whisky production process, a warehouse visit, and a tasting of four expressions with a complimentary Glencairn glass. Adult tickets £20, ages 12–17 £10. Maximum 10 guests per tour. Book online at speyburn.com or call +44 (0)7977 706676. Address: North St, Rothes, Aberlour, Banffshire AB38 7AG.