Speyburn Unlocked
A historic day at Speyburn Distillery as doors open permanently to visitors after 126 years
One of Speyside’s most picturesque distilleries will open to the public permanently following the success of their first ever public opening at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Festival. The new visitor experience will give whisky fans the chance to enjoy an authentic, behind-the-scenes experience of Speyside distilling life.
After 126 years making award-winning single malt whiskies behind closed doors, Speyburn Distillery in Rothes will open permanently to visitors from 1st August, and booking is now open via Speyburn’s website for the Distillery’s three daily tours, which will run every week from Tuesdays through to Saturdays.
The milestone decision to unlock the Distillery gates follows the success of several special one-off events during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival earlier this year, during which the Distillery team were delighted when tickets sold out within 12 hours. In addition to the positive feedback received, Speyburn secured the prestigious ‘Best New Event’ award at the festival.
Up until now, Speyburn fans have not had the chance to see behind the scenes and discover first-hand how this award-winning single malt is made. The new tours will offer this opportunity and provide a genuine experience and tasting of one of Speyside’s best kept secrets.
Euan Henderson, Speyburn Distillery Manager
Guests can look forward to an exploratory 1 hour 45 minutes tour around the Distillery, which is tucked away in a beautiful leafy glen on the edge of Forres near Aberlour: a location that has lost none of the quiet charm that first appealed to entrepreneur and Speyburn founder John Hopkins when he chose to build his distillery on this spot back in 1897.
Today, many of the original buildings, features and stonework still exist for guests to enjoy, as they are invited to immerse themselves in Speyburn’s world: from the banks of the Granty Burn which provides the Distillery’s crystal-clear water; through to the filling of casks for maturation in Speyburn’s traditional dunnage warehouses.
There’s a special treat for whisky enthusiasts, with a fascinating peek into Speyburn’s Old Drum Maltings: a traditional maltings building featuring three impressive floors of rarely seen vintage equipment. Mothballed half a century ago, it has lain locked and perfectly preserved until today, offering guests a unique glimpse into Speyside distilling history.
Speyburn’s Old Drum Maltings
The tours will also provide an insight into Speyburn’s environmental credentials, and the measures the Distillery team are taking to protect the surrounding environment and make their whisky one of the most sustainably-produced on the market today.
Speyburn Distillery Manager Euan Henderson explained that opening to visitors has been a long-held dream for the Distillery team, and that the time is finally right for it to become a reality. He said: ‘There is something very special about the setting and atmosphere at Speyburn, perhaps because it’s quite a hidden distillery and one that has gone about the business of making award-winning drams that are loved the world over in a very quiet and modest way. But now it’s time to let the world in and we couldn’t be more excited! There’s no artifice about the visitor experience we have created. This will be a true taste of Speyside distillery life that will offer an accessible and enjoyable experience for all. This is about the people who make our whiskies welcoming guests into our home to share a taste of Speyburn single malts and the stories and secrets of how they are made. There’s 126 years of previously unseen distilling history here just waiting to be discovered in the heart of Speyside – so make sure you don’t miss your slot on one of our tours this summer.’
Speyburn Distillery tours run from Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm
1 hour and 45 minutes each, 10 guests maximum per tour
Adults £20, children aged 12 – 17 can attend for £10
Book a Speyburn tour online at https://www.speyburn.com/visit-us/tours, or by telephoning +44 (0) 7977 706676
www.speyburn.com
Facebook / twitter @SpeyburnWhisky / Instagram @Speyburn_Whisky
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE HOLDINGS
International Beverage is one of the drinks industry’s most dynamic global businesses. Established in 2006 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thaibev, the company operates as its international business arm, specialising in the development of premium local spirits for the global market. Its success is built on a strong understanding of local cultures and markets within a worldwide business network. Based in Hong Kong with regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, the USA and UK, the company is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium brands in over 85 markets. These brands are built on character, craftsmanship and quality, led by a range of award-winning Scotch whiskies and an array of vibrant spirits. These include:
- Single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn
- Blended Scotch Hankey Bannister
- Caorunn, No.1 Premium London Dry Gin in the Scottish Off Trade*
- Mekhong, ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
- Phraya, a premium rum handcrafted in Thailand
*Neilson IQ – Volume and Value latest 52 weeks to 28/08/2022.
ABOUT SPEYBURN
Speyburn was founded in 1897 by entrepreneur John Hopkins who harboured an ambition to build a distillery and make a single cask of whisky for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee that same year. Trusting his instincts that the small, hidden Rothes valley was perfect for the production of fine whisky, he achieved his goal and created one of Speyside’s enduring whiskies.
125 years since distilling their first drop, Speyburn is proud to symbolise all that is special about the great region where it is produced and has become known as one of Scotland’s most picturesque and historic distilleries. It is the only distillery to use the fresh water of the Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey famed for its exceptional purity, which runs close to the Distillery site and gives Speyburn whiskies their perfectly-balanced, unique flavour. Bold, bright and full of character, like the Speyside region itself, its single malts are as inspiring to newcomers as they are to seasoned whisky enthusiasts, allowing everyone, everywhere to enjoy the classic taste of Speyside in every dram.
In 2016, Speyburn completed a £5 million investment programme which supported demand for its award-winning whiskies around the world and made it one of the greenest producers in the industry. The Speyburn team took two years to carefully renovate and expand the Distillery site, combining sustainability and the very latest energy efficient technology with traditional techniques, stonework and craftsmanship. As a result, production capacity has been doubled from 1.8 million litres to over 4 million litres per year, making Speyburn the largest distillery in the International Beverage group – and allowing the brand to lay down stock for its core markets, expand into new territories and build its portfolio of malt whiskies in the years ahead.
The Speyburn range includes:
Bradan Orach
10 Years Old
15 Years Old
18 Years Old
