🥃 Speyburn 10 Year Old
The core Speyburn expression: a Speyside single malt aged ten years, 40% ABV, matured in American oak casks that once held bourbon.
Speyburn 10 Year Old is the best-known age-statement expression from Speyburn distillery in Rothes, Speyside. It is a single malt Scotch whisky aged for ten years and bottled at 40% ABV. In 2024 it was restyled and kept in the core range alongside Speyburn Bourbon Cask and Speyburn Rum Cask Finish.
According to the producer, the whisky matures for more than ten years in American oak casks that previously held bourbon; Difford's Guide also mentions casks seasoned with sherry. The spirit is distilled in three stills fitted with worm tubs. The producer describes the aroma as orange, cinnamon and red apple, and the palate as toffee on apple pie with a long vanilla finish.
Why it matters to you. Speyburn 10 Year Old is a reference point for comparing the older Speyburn 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old. Bourbon Cask without an age statement is lighter, and Rum Cask Finish also matures in rum casks. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | 10 years |
| Cask type | American oak, ex-bourbon (producer); Difford's Guide also lists sherry-seasoned casks |
| Raw material | malted barley; water from the Granty Burn |
| Distillation method | 3 stills: one wash still and two spirit stills with worm tubs |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890): Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Speyburn 10 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🐝 American white oak, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Speyburn, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glen Grant 10 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn Rum Cask Finish, 🥃 Speyburn Rum Cask Finish, 🥃 Speyburn 15 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 15 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Speyburn 10 Year Old matures only in bourbon casks?
The producer refers to American oak casks that previously held bourbon; Difford's Guide also mentions sherry casks. No source gives a share.
What is the strength of Speyburn 10 Year Old?
40% ABV, according to the official website and Difford's Guide.
How does the 10-year-old differ from Speyburn Bourbon Cask?
The 10-year-old has a stated age. Bourbon Cask was released in 2024 without an age statement; it is lighter and matures only in ex-bourbon casks.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🐝 American white oak — A North American oak that gives wine strong vanilla and coconut notes.
- 🥃 Glen Grant 10 Year Old — Base age statement of the Glen Grant single malt from Speyside; 10 years of maturation; 40% ABV according to Difford's Guide.
Similar
🥃 Speyburn 18 Year Old · 🥃 Speyburn Bourbon Cask · 🥃 Speyburn 15 Year Old · 🥃 Speyburn Rum Cask Finish · 🥃 Glen Grant Arboralis · 🥃 Glen Grant 12 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Speyburn (official site): 10 Year Old (70cl, ABV 40 %; ten years in oak; colour, nose, palate, finish; SWSC, IWSC, ISC awards 2023–2025)
- Speyburn (official site): Speyburn unveils a vibrant new look and refreshed core range (23.05.2024; Bourbon Cask, Rum Cask Finish, 10 Years Old, all 40 %; 10 YO over 10 years in American oak; first rum cask finish for the brand; 15 and 18 YO new packaging later in 2024)
- Difford's Guide: Speyburn 10 Year Old (40 %; American oak ex-bourbon barrels and sherry wine seasoned casks)
- Dramface: Speyburn unveils new look and refreshed core range (2024; Bourbon Cask, Rum Cask Finish, 10 Years Old, 40 %; casks; 15 and 18 Years Old remain in the range)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)
Also listed under
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskySpeyside whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskySpeyburn
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch Whisky
- SpiritsWhiskySpeyburn