Speyburn 18 Years
The Speyburn 18 year is currently the oldest standard bottling from Speyburn, located in the Speyside region of Scotland. As one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, the bottlings fly under the radar for many. That should change.This year, the Speyburn distillery celebrates its 125th anniversary. Instead of an anniversary bottling, the website features some cocktail recipes specifically for Speyburn whisky. We just hope that no one sinks the multi-award-winning 18-years single malt in a cocktail.
The panel
Mean 81.0 · spread 2
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Speyburn
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Speyside
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 18 years
- Strength
- 46% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
On the nose, Speyburn 18 presents strong aromas of raisins, leather, and sugar, as well as dried plums and nutty notes. The whisky has a full-bodied and dark character, with an intense oak aroma that balances out the sweeter notes. There is also a hint of citrus and dark chocolate, giving it a slightly similar profile to Schwarzwälder Kirsch without the cream.
Palate
It is not as sweet as one might expect based on its nose. Instead, it has an intense sherry aroma and a clear oak spice that dominates the flavor profile. There are also subtle citrus notes present, which add a touch of freshness and balance out the sweetness of the sherry and the spiciness of the oak.
Finish
The finish is long and slightly bitter, with a lasting sweetness. The bitterness adds depth and complexity, while the sweetness adds a touch of balance and roundness.
Verdicts
Marcel
The Speyburn 18 is a charming companion for connoisseurs who have a penchant for classic sherry notes – full-bodied, intense, and with a touch of sweet depth that leaves you wanting more. While it lacks that certain something to become a true classic, it brings plenty of enjoyment as a reliable everyday whisky and adds character to the glass.
Sascha
With its balanced interplay of intense oak spice, subtle citrus hints, and a long-lasting, slightly bitter finish, the Speyburn 18 presents itself as a technically well-structured single malt. Despite a lack of innovation, it impresses with a complex flavor profile and solid maturity, appealing especially to lovers of traditional Speyside sherry whiskies.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Speyburn as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £109 across 25 lots · 2024-08