Speyburn 9 years 2008 Cadenhead's One of 540 - bottled 2018 Small Batch (Brown)

Speyburn was founded in 1897 by John and Edward Hopkins through their company John Hopkin & Co. The distillery was designed by Charles Doig, the inventory of the pagoda roof. It was bought in 1916 by Distillers Company Limited (DCL) and incorporated into its subsidiary Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD). It operated almost continuously until it was bought in 1991 by Inver House Distillers, closing only for four years in the early 1930s. Official bottlings of Speyburn are rare save for one 10 Year Old and a Flora & Fauna bottling from the United Distillers period. A handful of Speyburn bottlings can however be found from independent bottlers.

A Speyburn small batch distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2018. 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 540 bottles.