The Speyside 21 years 1996 Cadenhead's Sherry Cask One of 354 - bottled 2017 (Brown)

Speyside Distillery Company was founded in the region of the same name by the Christie family in 1955. It was initially a trading company, before becoming a producer after opening the distillery. Speyside was built between 1962 and 1987 by George Christie and Alex Fairlie near the village of Kingussie, on the site of Old Milton House, the home of John MacPherson Grant, director of the former Speyside distillery, which operated from 1895 to 1911. Production only began in 1990. The first malt, Drumguish, was released three years later. The company was bought in 2012 by John Harvey McDonough, who produces several brands, including Spey and Byron's gin.

A single cask from the Speyside distillery distilled in 1996, matured in a sherry cask and bottled in 2017. Cadenhead's was founded in Aberdeen in 1842 by George Duncan. William Cadenhead then joined the company and, when George Duncan died in 1858, took over and renamed the business after himself. William’’s nephew Roberth Duthie developed the company in the early 20th century and it remained a family business until 1969. William Cadenhead Ltd was then sold to the Springbank distillery’’s owner J. & A. Mitchell and Co. Hedley G. Wright, a direct descendent of Archibald and John Mitchell, became William Cadenhead Ltd’’s CEO. In the past, Cadenhead had mainly sold its own brands, such as Putachieside, The Hielanman, Seven Stars and Green Label rums. Under Hedley G. Wright, the company began to take more of an interest in single malts. This led to the creation of the legendary collection of dumpy bottles in 1977. This series of single malts stood out for its very gentle filtration, lack of artificial colouring, and relatively high bottling strength for the time (80 proof/45.7% ABV). The labels included lots of information, including the month and year of distillation and bottling, and whether or not sherry casks were used. Also in 1977, the business moved to another address in Aberdeen, and finally to Campbeltown. In the 1980s, Cadenhead sold casks to legendary bottlers such as Samaroli and Corti Brothers through the subsidiary Duthie’’s. Finally, two new whisky ranges were created in 1991 and 1992, the Original Collection bottled at 46% and the Authentic Collection bottled at cask strength. Other special series to mark Cadenhead’’s major anniversaries (150 and 175 years), as well as new ranges launched since (Small Batch, World Whiskies, etc.), have all contributed to the company’’s ongoing history up to the present day. A limited edition of 354 bottles.