🥃 Speyburn 15 Year Old
Speyburn age-statement expression: Speyside single malt aged 15 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks; the official site lists 40% ABV, a 2018 review 46%.
Speyburn 15 Year Old is a single malt from Speyburn distillery, aged 15 years in casks that once held bourbon or sherry. The official website now lists 40% ABV, while a Whisky Advocate review from 2018 described a 46% bottling. So check the strength on the label of your bottle.
The producer says the bourbon casks give vanilla and the sherry casks give forest fruit. Whisky Advocate notes that the blend includes American and Spanish oak casks. According to the brand, the nose shows dark chocolate, raisins, candied peel and vanilla, and the palate shows orange, toffee, cherry and cinnamon. The brand announced the new bottle design in 2024.
Why it matters to you. Compared with Speyburn 10 Year Old, this one is aged five years longer and the influence of sherry is more noticeable. Speyburn 18 Year Old is richer still, with notes of chocolate and almond. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (official website); 46% ABV in a bottling described by Whisky Advocate in 2018 |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | 15 years |
| Cask type | ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks; American and Spanish oak (Whisky Advocate) |
| 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 15 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry, 🐝 American white oak, 🥃 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 15 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 10 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 10 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 18 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 18 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Speyburn 15 Year Old is 46%?
That was the strength of a bottling that Whisky Advocate described in 2018. The official website now gives 40% ABV, so check the label.
What casks is Speyburn 15 Year Old matured in?
Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks; according to Whisky Advocate, it is a blend of American and Spanish oak.
How does the 15-year-old differ from Speyburn 10 Year Old?
A longer maturation and sherry casks: the producer writes about forest fruit, cherry and chocolate.
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 15 Year Old — 15-year version of the Glen Grant Speyside single malt; 50% ABV; not chill filtered; first-fill bourbon barrels.
Similar
🥃 Speyburn 18 Year Old · 🥃 Speyburn Bourbon Cask · 🥃 Speyburn 10 Year Old · 🥃 Speyburn Rum Cask Finish · 🥃 Glen Grant 12 Year Old · 🥃 Glen Grant 10 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): 15 Year Old (70cl, ABV 40 %; bourbon and sherry casks; nose, palate)
- Whisky Advocate: Speyburn 15 year old, 46 % (Gavin Smith, Fall 2018; mix of American and Spanish oak 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