Fresh green apple drizzled with honey and lemon, with soft vanilla
Palate
Honey and vanilla, then delicate spices, brown sugar and sweet cream
Finish
Long, smooth and sweet
About this whisky
Speyburn Bourbon Cask is a smooth, easy-drinking single malt from Speyburn Distillery in Rothes, in the heart of Speyside. Matured in American oak bourbon casks, it’s bright, clean and delicately sweet, with fresh green apple, honey, lemon and vanilla, and a long, smooth finish.
Speyburn describes it as a simple, refreshing dram that speaks for itself, and that’s exactly its appeal. Bottled at 40% ABV, it’s unpeated, light and very good value, and it has won a run of Silver medals at major international competitions.
Speyburn Bourbon Cask Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright golden amber.
Nose: Slices of fresh green apple drizzled with honey and lemon, with soft vanilla.
Palate: Honey and vanilla first, followed by delicate spices, brown sugar and sweet cream.
Finish: Long, smooth and sweet.
It’s a classic, fresh Speyside style: fruity, honeyed and clean, with no smoke at all.
Why Bourbon Casks?
By US law, bourbon has to be aged in brand-new charred oak barrels, so once a barrel has been used it’s often shipped to Scotland to age whisky. These ex-bourbon casks still hold plenty of flavour in the wood.
Vanilla and honey: the toasted, charred American oak gives sweet vanilla, honey and caramel notes.
A lighter style: unlike sherry casks, bourbon casks don’t add heavy dried fruit, so the spirit’s own fresh apple and citrus character shines through.
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Smoothness:
American oak softens the spirit, giving the creamy texture you’ll notice on the palate.
Speyburn Bourbon Cask is matured entirely in these casks, which is why it tastes so bright and fresh compared with richer, sherried Speyside malts.
Speyburn Distillery: Born in a Snowstorm
Speyburn Distillery was founded in 1897 by John Hopkins & Company, at a cost of £17,000. Hopkins chose a spot in the Glen of Rothes for its clean, unpolluted water from the Granty Burn, a small stream that feeds into the River Spey.
The distillery was meant to start producing on 1 November 1897, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year. Building work ran late, and by mid-December the still house still had no doors or windows. Determined to make whisky dated 1897, the team ran the stills for the first time on 15 December, in the middle of a violent snowstorm. They managed to fill just one butt before the year ended, and it was bonded with the date 1897.
The distillery was designed by Charles Doig, the architect behind many of Scotland’s classic distilleries, and it still has his trademark pagoda roof. Set in a wooded glen, it’s often called one of the most picturesque distilleries in Speyside.
Today Speyburn is owned by Inver House Distillers, which also owns Old Pulteney, Balblair, Knockdhu (anCnoc) and Balmenach. It runs one wash still and two spirit stills, and can make around 4.1 million litres of spirit a year. Speyburn is also one of the best-selling single malt brands in the USA.
Award-Winning
Speyburn Bourbon Cask has won Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition every year from 2022 to 2025, as well as Silver at the International Spirits Challenge 2025. That’s a strong record for an everyday single malt at this price.
How to Enjoy Speyburn Bourbon Cask
Neat: a fresh, easy sipper that shows off the apple and honey.
Over ice: a large cube keeps it crisp and refreshing.
Honey & Ginger serve: Speyburn’s own suggestion. Mix it with a little honey syrup, top up with ginger ale and add a squeeze of lime.
In a highball: top with soda water and a slice of green apple for something light and summery.
In a hot toddy: its honey and lemon notes make it a natural fit with hot water, honey, lemon and a cinnamon stick.
Who Is It For?
Speyburn Bourbon Cask is perfect for anyone who likes light, fruity and sweet whisky. It’s a great first single malt, a budget-friendly everyday dram, and an excellent whisky for mixing. If you enjoy bourbon, you’ll recognise the vanilla and honey, wrapped up in a fresh Speyside style.
Similar Whiskies You Might Enjoy
If you like this bright, bourbon-cask style, try these:
Loch Lomond The Original: a smooth, honeyed single malt aged in bourbon, refill and re-charred American oak casks.
Bright and fresh, with green apple, honey, lemon and vanilla on the nose, then honey, vanilla, delicate spice, brown sugar and sweet cream on the palate, and a long, smooth finish.
Is Speyburn Bourbon Cask peated?
No. It’s an unpeated Speyside single malt with no smoke.
Is it bourbon?
No. It’s 100% Scotch single malt whisky. “Bourbon Cask” means it’s matured in American oak casks that previously held bourbon, which add vanilla and honey flavours.
Where is Speyburn made?
At Speyburn Distillery in Rothes, in the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery has been making whisky since 1897.
How old is Speyburn Bourbon Cask?
It has no age statement. Speyburn also makes a 10 Year Old, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old if you want to explore the range.
Is Speyburn Bourbon Cask good for cocktails?
Yes. Its light, honeyed style is ideal for highballs and Speyburn’s Honey & Ginger serve, and it works well in a hot toddy too.
What is the ABV and bottle size?
Speyburn Bourbon Cask is bottled at 40% ABV in a 70cl bottle.
