Speyburn

Our founder, John Hopkins discovered a unique spot, in the heart of Speyside, ideal for making exceptionally smooth whisky. The region was already famous for its whisky however what John Hopkins brought to Speyside was an innovative spirit and the determination to do things right.

While hunting for the perfect spot for his distillery, Hopkins discovered the Granty Burn - an untouched stream hidden in a secluded Speyside valley. He knew that the exceptionally pure water of this burn would produce a remarkable whisky with a naturally refreshing character. Hopkins trusted his intuition and built the Speyburn distillery right there in the glen, using authentic river stones from the bed of the fast-flowing River Spey itself. Over 100 years after its founding, Speyburn remains the only distillery to use the pure, crystal-clear water of the Granty Burn.

Set in a steep valley with limited space, the distillery had to be built vertically over three levels with layered mesh drying floors if it was to fit into the narrow space. So, Charles C. Doig, the world famous distillery designer and innovator, designed an entirely new shape of distillery. Doig’s hand can also be seen in the Pagoda style roof that breaches the tops of our trees. Doig himself invented this design to create an even airflow over the grains as they dried. It has become an iconic symbol of a traditional approach.

On the last night of the year, Hopkins and his team toiled through a storm of Arctic proportions to craft a whisky in time to toast the Queen’s Jubilee. Determined that their first bottle would bear the year 1897 on its label, the men battled against the elements wearing overcoats and mufflers to protect them from the freezing snow. After hours of hard work and with heroic efforts of his distillery men, Hopkins finally triumphed and was rewarded with the first barrel of Speyburn whisky.