Speyburn Bourbon Cask Whisky Review

DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.

Reviewed by Deborah Banasko

Over the past couple of years I have really started to love a good quality whisky on a weekend evening, mainly due to the influences of my husband and my dad drinking it around me, as they are the real connoisseurs. So, we had a little dinner and whisky evening at home to try the Speyburn Bourbon Cask Whisky, once the kids were in bed.

It arrived well packed in bubble wrap, and the bottle is appealing with the combination of blues, white and gold, if you were thinking of this whisky as a gift idea. I love that the cap is completely wrap-sealed for that touch of quality. It is a single malt, aged in bourbon casks in Rothes, Scotland and has a 40% alcohol volume. I cannot be sure if it is artificially coloured from the information provided, and there is also not a stated age for the whisky.

The Speyburn name was established in 1897, and (according to the website) they claim to draw upon “over a century of craftsmanship and expertise to produce whiskies of exceptional quality”. Apparently Speyburn is the only distillery to use the “crystal-clear water of the Granty Burn” (a freshwater stream in Scotland), and this approach is apparently crucial for a refreshing whisky.

There are several buying options of Speyburn whiskies, ranging from different ages to different casks so you really can find a drink to suit your preferences. The Speyburn website was easy to navigate, provided information on tasting notes for each whiskey to help you make your choice, and even suggested a different whiskey cocktail to try for each type of whiskey, which I felt was a great touch.

We had a go swirling the whisky gently in the glass in order to detect the aroma… I could certainly distinguish the vanilla and honey, a fruity smell and it seemed to be a little “malty”, but a real expert should be able to smell the green apples and lemon according to the website. It was certainly a pleasant smell.

I only drink the whiskies that my Husband or Dad recommend as I cannot cope with the cheap brands which seem to burn your throat and feel harsh. This Speyburn whiskey, we all agreed, was smooth with a warm malty-oak finish. It didn’t have the scratchy sensation of some varieties, just an oaky-burnt taste that lingered slightly, but that was lovely. It was very easy to drink and not too overpowering, with a creamy light sweetness which feels appropriate for summer-drinking in the garden as the sun goes down. This is a really lovely whiskey to sip with friends.

The price of £26 for 70cl feels really good for a single malt, especially as my two male helpers agreed that this was certainly a higher quality beverage than many that we have tried at home. It is one that I would happily buy as a gift, as it is so easy to drink. I just wish that it came in a gift box like the other whiskies produced from Speyburn; a minor point but it would have been a nice touch.

I would award this whisky 4.5 stars out of 5; good value for money and a high quality taste.

Rating: 4.5/5

RRP: £26 (70cl)

You can purchase this product and learn more about the how the whiskey is produced from Speyburn here: Speyburn.com
There is a link via the website to purchase this from Amazon.