Speyburn 10 Review

Speyburn 10 is the sort of bottle you find in the lower shelf of a shop, priced like a blend and labelled as a single malt. It’s one of the cheapest age-stated single malts you can buy, and it has a small but loyal fan base.

I wanted to find out whether that’s a bargain or a warning.

What it is

Speyburn is a distillery in Rothes, Speyside, founded in 1897, and it’s owned by Inver House Distillers. It’s built in a valley between two hills and is known for being quiet and under the radar.

The 10 Year Old is matured mostly in ex-bourbon American oak, with some sherry casks in the mix, and bottled at 40%. It’s meant to be a light, fruity, easy malt, and it’s mostly sold in the US and the UK.

In the glass

I tried it neat and with a splash of water on a weeknight. I expected a thin, simple malt, and that’s about what I found.

Nose: green apple and vanilla, with a touch of heather and some malt. It smells fresh, light and slightly floral. There’s not a lot of depth.

Palate: light and fruity. Honey, vanilla and a hint of spice. It’s smooth and very easy to drink, with no harsh edges. It’s also quite thin, and the flavours disappear fairly fast. A decent, plain malt.

Finish: short to medium, soft and slightly dry. It doesn’t linger. With water it was even lighter, and with ice it became very gentle.

Cheap malts compared

If you’re looking at budget single malts, Glen Moray Classic and Tamnavulin Double Cask are the usual alternatives. Glen Moray is a bit cheaper and a bit sweeter. Tamnavulin is richer and has a sherry touch. Speyburn is the lightest and most delicate of the three.

Of the group, Speyburn is the one I’d pick for a calm, plain malt. It doesn’t do much, and it doesn’t do anything wrong.

Value

A 70 cl bottle usually costs about £24 in the UK. That’s very good for an age-stated single malt, and it’s easy to find on offer.

Who it is for

It’s for people who want a very inexpensive single malt, or a bottle to keep for guests. It’s good for mixing. If you want something with character, spend a few pounds more.

A second glass

I poured another glass over ice the next day, and it was more enjoyable that way. The green apple and heather stood out, and the thinness mattered less. It’s a whisky for a warm evening, not a cold one.

Against my usual

Compared with Jameson, Speyburn is lighter and drier, with less body. It’s smooth, but it doesn’t have the creamy sweetness that I like. I’d say it’s an acceptable, inexpensive alternative, and Jameson is better.

Where it fits

I think it fits best in a cupboard where there’s already a good bottle. You keep it for guests, for mixing and for evenings when you want a drink and don’t want to think. It doesn’t offend anyone, and it doesn’t require a lot of explanation.

Sharing it

I poured a glass for a neighbour who’s a Scotch fan, and he said “that’s a gentle one”. He’s right. It’s a very quiet whisky, and it’s the sort of bottle you open and forget about for a while.

Last word

Speyburn 10 is a quiet, light, honest whisky at a very fair price. It won’t win any prizes for excitement, and I’d say it’s one of the better cheap malts for a casual drink. I’d keep a bottle around for guests.

Pairing and serving

It’s also a bottle that works well for people who are cautious about whisky. There’s nothing aggressive in it, and a splash of soda makes it even gentler. I’d keep one for the friend who says “I don’t really like whisky”.

Pairing and serving

I tried it with a few salted peanuts on a quiet Sunday, and the nuts made the whisky taste sweeter. It’s a good, humble combination, and it fits the whisky.

Last word

Speyburn 10 is a cheap, light, honest single malt. It won’t excite you, and it won’t let you down. For £24, that’s a fair deal.

Verdict

Maybe. It’s easy, cheap and honest. I wouldn’t call it exciting, and I wouldn’t be disappointed to find it on a friend’s shelf.