Speyburn Tasting at The Diggers

We're delighted to welcome Speyburn Distillery and brand ambassador Flora Outram to The Athletic Arms aka The Diggers, Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year 2025, for a tasting of their floral, sweet, yet still complex Speyside whisky.

Speyside Distillery was founded in 1897 by John Hopkins at the Granty Burn in the Spey valley in amongst the tall trees and the steep valley. Already a brandy merchant, Hopkins wanted into the whisky business, so having found his site he commissioned legendary architect Charles Doig to design a distillery to overcome nature, and in the process gave us the pagoda vent. Not content with that, the distillery also had the first drum maltings in the Highlands, so that with the limited space for floor maltings the distillery would not be beholden to anyone else for malted barley.

Over the years, the distillery has changed hands several times, and now sits as part of the InterBev portfolio (alongside Old Pulteney, Balblair, and anCnoc [Knockdhu]). But it continues to put out an under-appreciated, sweet, and floral whisky with a slightly sulfury spine from its wormtub condensers. We'll be trying 6 whiskies from their range that will explore the full complexity this spirit offers, if you want to see for yourself then get yourself a ticket and join us!

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Host or Publisher Kevin Mcghee