Lush Guide to Speyburn Distillery

Speyburn Distillery in Rothes, Speyside, is open to visitors, and it is an absolute joy! Tucked into a leafy glen beside the Granty Burn, this 1897 beauty welcomes guests on tours that finish with drams in a cozy tasting room.

Speyburn founder John Hopkins was adamant his new distillery be located in the tiny village of Rothes, in the Speyside region of Scotland. Only from there could he produce his new make spirit using the crystal-clear water coming from the Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey.

He then called on Charles Doig, the famed architect of many whisky distilleries at the time, to fashion the distillery with his signature pagoda-like ventilator. That pagoda is not just pretty! It lets a constant current of air flow over the grains, and Doig built the distillery up the hillside instead of out, which suits the narrow glen perfectly.

1897 was actually the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, celebrating her 60th anniversary on the throne. The rumor is that Hopkins was able to toast to the Queen with Speyburn’s first single malt whisky. Speyburn is now part of the International Beverage family (you may know the group by its former name, Inver House Distillers), and it is home to a beautifully preserved set of its original drum maltings.

Take a peek inside Speyburn Distillery with me before you plan your own visit!

Getting to Speyburn

To get to Rothes, Scotland, you typically have a few options depending on your starting point:

• By Air: The nearest major airports are either Inverness or Aberdeen. From the airport, you can rent a car, take a taxi, or use public transportation to reach Rothes. I flew from London and then drove!
• By Train: There is no direct train station in Rothes. However, you can take a train to Elgin, which is about 10 miles (16 km) away from Rothes. From Elgin, you can continue your journey by bus, taxi, or rental car to reach Rothes.
• By Bus: There are bus services connecting Rothes to nearby towns and cities. You can check the local bus schedules and routes to plan your trip accordingly.
• By Car: If you prefer driving, you can rent a car and navigate to Rothes using GPS or a map. The roads in Scotland are generally well-maintained, and there are various routes to reach Rothes depending on your starting location.

Keep in mind that travel options and routes may change, so it’s always a good idea to check for the latest information and plan your journey accordingly.

Where to stay near Speyburn

Here is a list of hotels near the distillery. I stayed at the Mansion House Hotel which I can highly recommend and is the perfect spot to explore the area as well as Speyburn Distillery.

1. The Mansion House Hotel: Charming and historic hotel and located in Elgin. The hotel is often praised for its traditional Scottish hospitality and elegant atmosphere. It is ideally situated for exploring the attractions of Elgin and the surrounding Speyside area
2. The Station Hotel: Located in Rothes itself, this hotel is within walking distance to Speyburn Distillery. It offers comfortable rooms and traditional Scottish hospitality.
3. The Dowans Hotel: Situated in Aberlour, which is about 4 miles (6.5 km) from Rothes, this hotel provides a charming and cozy stay near the distillery.
4. The Craigellachie Hotel: Located in Craigellachie, approximately 4 miles (6.5 km) from Rothes, this historic hotel offers a blend of modern comfort and traditional Scottish architecture.
5. The Highlander Inn: Situated in Craigellachie as well, this inn is within easy reach of Speyburn Distillery and offers a warm atmosphere.

Remember to check for updated information on the hotels’ websites!

Visiting the Distillery

The tour begins at the distillery gates and ends in that cosy tasting room. Although some of them are no longer in use, the original buildings’ features give a lesson in Victorian distilling at its finest, including Speyburn’s old drum maltings room and traditional dunnage warehouses!

It’s one of Speyside’s most picturesque distilleries still in existence and the setting is so lovely, nestled right into a beautiful leafy glen on the banks of the Granty Burn.

Tour Booking and Visitor Tips

Booking is easy on the official website, and here is everything to know before you go:

• The tour: The Drums, Drams and Dunnage Tour takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. At the time of writing it is £30 per adult and £15 per child aged 12 to 17.
• Book ahead: Space is limited and groups larger than 10 people cannot be accommodated, so booking in advance is highly recommended.
• Arrive early: Plan to arrive at the visitor centre at least 15 minutes before your tour.
• Children: Because of hazards in the maltings and production areas, children need to be 12 or older.
• Accessibility: Speyburn’s charm lies in its age and hillside setting. The distillery was built over several levels with no lifts, and the tour includes staircases and sections of open-grid flooring. If mobility is a concern, it is worth contacting the distillery before you book.
• Going deeper: The Hopkins Behind the Scenes tour adds a dram drawn straight from the cask in the dunnage warehouse, a taste of new make spirit and a distillery exclusive in the tasting room.

Tour days, times and prices can change, so please check the official site for the latest.

How Speyburn Makes Its Whisky

If you love seeing how a dram comes to life, you are in for a treat! Like every Scotch single malt, Speyburn starts with malted barley, water and yeast, and is distilled twice in copper pot stills: first in the wash still, then in the spirit still. The clear spirit that comes off the stills is called new make spirit, and you even get to taste it on the Hopkins tour before time and oak turn it into Speyburn.

Here are the highlights you will see along the way:

• The old drum maltings: Drum malting is a mechanical way of malting barley in giant rotating drums instead of turning it by hand on a floor. It took up far less space, which mattered in a narrow glen. Speyburn’s vintage drums spread across three floors and were retired in the late 1960s, and today you can see them preserved in plain sight.
• The worm tubs and still house: The traditional worm tubs are part of what gives Speyburn its fruity Speyside character with extra body.
• The dunnage warehouses: Stone walls, earthen floors and casks stacked in the dark, where the whisky rests and the angels take their share.

The Speyburn Whisky range

Of course, during the tour, you enjoy more than one of their award-winning drams to give you a taste of Speyburn! They’ve been making whisky for a long time, so as you would imagine, they know what they’re doing.

Only the best ingredients are used and, although the production process might be steeped in tradition, the process is completely contemporary and overseen by Speyburn Distillery Manager Euan Henderson.

The core range of Speyburn Whisky is a made up of four distinct expressions – each with its idiosyncratic personality!

• Bourbon Cask: This expression without an age statement is matured in ex-bourbon casks. It is a lighter expression with notes of green apple, citrus and honey, perfect for those who are new to Speyside single malt whisky or want a fresher, younger whisky to mix cocktails. (This is the whisky formerly known as Bradan Orach, Gaelic for “Golden Salmon.”)
• Rum Cask Finish: The newest member of the family is matured in bourbon casks, then finished in rum casks for tropical fruit, spiced vanilla and honey.
• 10 Year Old: Also light, but a bit more fruity and with a hint of spice. It’s been matured in a combination of American Oak ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.
• 15 Year Old: Being 5 more years old, comes 5 more years of experience! A more mature expression that is rich and full-bodied with a long, smooth finish due to its long maturation time in both ex-American and ex-Spanish oak casks.
• 18 Year Old: This is the oldest expression Speyburn has in the bottle and it has been matured in American and Spanish oak casks. Think dark chocolate and a hint of smoke.

New to Speyburn? Start with the Bourbon Cask or the 10 Year Old. Love a richer, rounder sip? The 15 Year Old is your dram. There are a few other expressions you can find in duty-free and the US, so check out the website for those.

There are a few other expressions you can find in duty-free and the US, so check out the website for those.

Top Tip(ple)🍸: You can find all of these at The Whisky Exchange.

Why Lush Life Loves it!

Speyburn Distillery is just so beguiling. It doesn’t really matter if you’re whisky fans, history buffs, outdoor lovers – the new visitor experience is great fun and the buildings are gorgeous!

Other things to do when you are near Speyburn Distillery

Glen Grant Distillery is just a short walk from Speyburn, which makes for a lovely pairing if you are in Rothes for the day. Speyburn matures its whisky in ex-bourbon casks, so if the American side of the story fascinates you, our guide to the Maker’s Mark distillery tour is a fun next read.

Speyburn Distillery FAQ

Is Speyburn Distillery open to visitors? Yes! Speyburn welcomes guests for tours and tastings in Rothes, Speyside. Booking ahead is highly recommended.

Who owns Speyburn Distillery? Speyburn is part of the International Beverage family, formerly known as Inver House Distillers.

How long is the Speyburn tour? The Drums, Drams and Dunnage Tour takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Can children visit Speyburn Distillery? Children aged 12 and over are welcome on the tour.

Which Speyburn whisky is best for beginners? The Bourbon Cask and the 10 Year Old are both light, fruity and easy to enjoy.