Clan Speyburn Cask–1975 Vintage

Speyburn Casks in Warehouse (Photo: Tommy Deile)

Good things are happening at Speyburn. Last year when we visited the distillery (thanks tommy for providing me with this lovely shot he made of me and fellow Swedes Johan and Hakan on location at speyburn) , it had only to offer a few not very interesting drams (the NAS, and the 10yo), and as it seems things are a changing…

A week ago I posted news about Speyburn launching a new fan club by the name of “Clan Speyburn” which will offer some perks, one of which will be special bottling for club members (you can read more about it here) , and now it’s time to taste a sample of the first such cask which will be offered to club member later this year. I guess the new bottle will also be using the new design for the bottles which was launched at the same time for the 10 year old and the Bradan Orach expressions. This first bottling will be a 1975 37 year old (Yay, my birth year!) and is a single sherry cask butt from Pedro Domecq which is the  oldest Bodega in Jerez (founded 1730), It’s very likely that the cask was used for hold some PX sherry before being shipped to Scotland. The sample I am about to try was drawn from this cask this march, and currently is at 55.8% ABV, with a lovely color (you can guess how a 37 year old whisky aged in sherry PX can look like eh?). Very excited to have been sent a wee sample of this. I know Speyburn is not a very sexy brand, and previous bottlings were nothing fancy, but I do remember the excellent 25 year old Solera Reserve sample I tasted and reviewed a few months ago which was so good, this one should be even better, I guess… Let’s Dram!

Clan Speyburn Cask Sample  , 37 yo , distilled 1975, 55.8% ABV (no pricing yet)

Nose: Rich and thick. you start with a wood polish kick , some wood , kirsch and sultanas. Herbal notes and hay are also there to balance out the thick sherry. Continuing with an old library and old books and  gentle spice. Nutmeg and cinnamon ( yes a little word game for those who read Murakami’s “The windup bird chronicle” ).

Palate: Big bold and spicy. Then getting fruity with some chocolate fondant and cocoa powder. Kirsch filled Bon bons with the cherries inside, oh, I love those. Finishes with  Some crème de menthe as well.

Finish: Long. Wood and chocolate. With a touch of espresso.

bottom line:

All in all, a first class cask. Excellent nose, and palate, complex, interesting,viscous and rewarding. The sherry is definitely there, but not over imposing, and the balance is there. It just shows that Speyburn do have a lot of interesting things to offer, and they know how to make whisky. At this ABV% it’s a cracking dram, one I’d very much like to see in my whisky bar, when the club bottling is released to the public. Things are really happening at Speyburn, it’s time! and It’s Exciting.

Score: 90/100

Many thanks to LD for the official sample