Speyburn Distillery was founded in 1897 by John Hopkins & Company for the sum of £17,000. The site was chosen by John Hopkins himself for its unpolluted water supply from the Granty Burn, one of the major tributaries to the River Spey. Hopkins appointed the famous distillery architect Charles C Doig to design the distillery and to this day Speyburn has its classic pagoda ventilator, a hallmark of Doig's design. The proprietors, keen to have production started to ensure that the first fillings could bear the date 1897 - Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - had scheduled production to begin on 1 November 1897. However, due to delays, the stills did not run until 15 December. When production finally began, the still house was without doors and windows. Under the watchful eye of the distillery's manager, John Smith, the first spirit was run off in a violent snow storm with the distillery men working in overcoats and mufflers to protect them from the elements. However, the proprietors succeeded in achieving their ambition and one butt was produced and bonded bearing the date 1897. Speyburn Single Highland Scotch Malt whisky is exported throughout the world and it is currently the number 9 best selling single malt whisky in the USA. The distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, a privately owned distiller whose other distilleries include Old Pulteney Distillery, Knockdhu Distillery, Balblair Distillery, and Balmenach Distillery.
Awards
San Franscisco World Spirits Competition 2020 Speyburn Arranta Casks - Silver Speyburn 10 Years Old - Gold Speyburn 15 Years Old - Gold Speyburn 18 Years Old - Gold World Whiskies Awards 2019 Speyburn 15 Years Old - Gold International Wine & Spirits Competition 2019 Speyburn Arranta Casks - Silver Speyburn 15 Years Old - Silver Speyburn 18 Years Old - Silver Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2019 Speyburn Arranta Casks - 95 Points, Great Value, Tried & True Speyburn 10 Years Old - 87 Points Speyburn 15 Years Old - 95 Points, Great Valie Speyburn 18 Years Old - 93 Points International Spirits Challenge 2018 Speyburn 10 Years Old - Silver Speyburn 15 Years Old - Silver International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2018 Speyburn Bradan Orach - Silver Speyburn 15 Years Old - Silver Speyburn 10 Years Old - Silver Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018 Speyburn 10 Years Old - Speyburn Arranta Casks - Speyburn 15 Years Old - Speyburn Bradan Orach - San Francisco Wine & Spirits Challenge Speyburn 15 Years Old - Double Gold Speyburn 12 Years Old - Gold Speyburn 25 Years Old - Gold Speyburn 10 Years Old - Silver Speyburn Bradan Orach - Bronze World Whisky Awards 2018 Speyburn Bradan Orach - Bronze International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017 Speyburn Arranta Casks - Gold Speyburn 15 Years Old - Silver Speyburn Bradan Orach - Silver Speyburn 10 Years Old - Silver New York InternationalSpirits Competition 2017 Speyburn Bradan Orach - Double Gold New York International Spirits Competition 2017 Speyburn 10 Years Old - Silver Speyburn Arranta Casks - Silver San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 Speyburn Arranta - Double Gold Speyburn 10 Years Old - Gold International Spirits Challenge 2017 Speyburn Arranta Casks – Gold Speyburn 10 Years Old - Silver Speyburn Bradan Orach - Silver Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 Speyburn Arranta - 94 points, Great Value Speyburn Bradan Orach - 91 points, Great Value Speyburn 10 Years Old - 89 points IWSC 2016 Speyburn 10 Years Old – Silver Speyburn Bradan Orach - Silver Speyburn Arranta Casks – Silver Outstanding International Spirits Challenge 2016 Speyburn 10 Years Old – Silver Speyburn Bradan Orach - Silver Speyburn Arranta Casks - Gold Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016 Speyburn 10 Years Old, Tried & True Speyburn Bradan Orach 96 points, Great Value San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016 Speyburn 10 Years Old – Silver Speyburn Arranta Casks - Silver New York World Spirits Competition Speyburn – Speyside Distillery of the Year
