Speyburn is a type of curious whisky manufacturers, which appears to exemplify the sort of hyper-romanticised nonsense from Scotch whisky advertising and marketing. From the web site: “… the center of Speyside, supreme for making exceptionally easy whisky.” What has the placement obtained to do with making easy whisky? And what does easy even imply on this context anyway? “This distinctive expression has been matured in American oak and Spanish oak casks, adopting the aromatic Speyside air.” Actually? The whisky adopts the Speyside air – when most of it has been tankered away to Inver Home Distillers’ foremost warehousing at Airdrie, North Lanarkshire?
Perhaps I’m selecting a bit on Speyburn, and maybe that is unfair of me, as a result of I do just like the portfolio of Inver Home Distillers (Previous Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn and Balmenach) but it surely appears to be the standard strategy of Scotch manufacturers that don’t have anything to say about how their product is really made, which is for me what makes the stuff we discover written about Speyburn seem so… insincere.
I don’t imply it unkindly, I’ve to say. Such romanticism is typical in Scotch whisky, but it surely simply doesn’t appear the minimize the mustard in 2017. I learn an article on scotchwhisky.com the place Dave Broom was moaning about some new press launch declare or different – however for me, this misses the mark solely. The issue with what manufacturers are saying isn’t new ridiculous claims – which is merely a trick to earn clicks within the trendy period of publicity – however the pervasive, nearly invisible shit that has been spouted for the previous thirty years, and that’s regurgitated time and time once more with out anybody questioning what’s being stated (adopting the aromatic Speyside air).
The brand new technology of whisky drinker calls for to know what goes into her merchandise, how it’s made, and she or he doesn’t desire a load of previous tales, romanticised misinformation or hackneyed clichés in regards to the previous. This would be the factor that makes such manufacturers forgettable in a couple of years’ time.
But, I suppose it hasn’t harmed Speyburn being one of many massive promoting whiskies within the USA. Then once more, our American mates put Trump in energy, so you possibly can’t actually vouch for reputation Stateside being a benchmark of high quality.
Which brings me, finally, to the Speyburn 15 12 months Previous – and fewer in regards to the advertising and marketing. And that once more is the place I run into hassle, as somebody who’s inquisitive about what goes into whisky. All I do know is that it’s been in Spanish and American oak. Not what the casks held earlier than, or certainly what number of instances they held whisky. Little or no data is put ahead about… let’s say fermentation instances, for instance (which is brief – simply 48 hours), or something which will point out the standard of what has gone into manufacturing.
So I’ll simply inform you it’s bottled at 46% ABV (a superb factor) and now prices £60 (a bit a lot).
Speyburn 15 12 months Previous – Evaluation
Color: deep gold.
On the nostril: vastly fruity: zesty lemon, tangerines, grapefruit and mango, with toffee and vanilla. Sultanas and raisins, just a bit, earlier than returning to the fruits. Principally, it’s a fruit salad.
Within the mouth: once more, loads of fruitiness with a curious bready, yeasty be aware beneath that. Inexperienced apples, mead, a bit ginger after which sultanas, dried apricots, custard cream biscuits. Chocolatey, chewy, and stacks of vanilla as soon as the fruit drifts away.
Conclusions
Easy stuff, a couple of flavours right here, but I’d fortunately attain for one more. I can’t assist however marvel at that curious be aware beneath all of the fruits (and what that means in regards to the high quality of the spirit produced all these years in the past).
Too costly for what it’s although, and I can’t assist however direct you to loads of different attention-grabbing locations equivalent to anCnoc – or for a tenner extra you’d get the excellent GlenDronach 18 12 months Previous. And for a lot much less you’d get a a lot better 15 yr previous from Glengoyne.
All I can say is that this: it’s about time we – as whisky drinkers – put an finish to this type of empty romanticism in whisky.
Rating: 4/10
Might need been a 5 if it wasn’t for the tripe copy cluttering up their web site.
