Speyburn 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky
Speyburn 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky is Speyside value at its finest — 80 proof (40% ABV), 750mL, matured a full decade in American oak ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Distilled in the village of Rothes at a distillery founded in 1897 by John Hopkins, it uses water drawn only from the Granty Burn, a small tributary of the River Spey — and it took Gold at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 10 years in American oak ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
- Distillery: Speyburn, Rothes, Speyside — founded 1897 (Inver House)
- Awards: Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006
Born in a Blizzard
John Hopkins was determined that whisky would flow in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year: workers toiled through a blizzard on the last night of 1897, in a stillhouse without doors or windows, to fill a single barrel of first-make Speyburn. The distillery still runs much as it did a century ago — and the 10-year-old remains the easy-drinking center of the range: citrusy, zesty, and consistently one of the best-value single malts in the category.
Tasting Notes
Pale gold with amber highlights. Fresh citrus tang and herbs on the nose — oranges, red apple, warm cinnamon. The palate is delicate and medium-bodied: toffee and butterscotch over baked apple, soft vanilla, gentle spice. Long, sweet, and creamy on the finish, with lingering vanilla and a whisper of oak.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water to lift the citrus. At this price it is also one of the smartest cocktail malts going — a Scotch sour or Rob Roy built on Speyburn 10 tastes far more expensive than it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABV of Speyburn 10 Year Old? 40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL.
What casks does Speyburn 10 use? A combination of American oak ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks — citrus and vanilla from the bourbon wood, warmth and depth from the sherry.
Is Speyburn 10 good value? Widely regarded as one of the best-value Speyside single malts — genuine 10-year quality at an everyday price.
Ten years in oak, one smart price — grab Speyburn 10 Year Old from Del Mesa Liquor's online store.