Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/581407
42 / the tasting panel / october 2015 BRAND PROFILE I n the face of the "bourbon boom," how is one single malt Scotch brand innovating to court future customers? On the ground and in the bottle, Speyburn single malt Scotch whisky is answering the call with an updated distillery and a new offering. One of Scotland's most picturesque distilleries, Speyburn sits in a hollow of lush, tree-lined hills just outside the town of Rothes in the Speyside region within Scotland's Highlands. This year, the distillery witnessed a £5 million expansion that increased its production capacity from 1.8 million liters to over 4 million liters each year, reduced its energy consumption per liter of alcohol and improved its carbon footprint. One thing hasn't changed: the distillery's traditional methods of production and most of the dis- tillery's original features, including a pagoda roof, wooden wash backs, unique stills and traditional dunnage warehouses that have defined its unique character since its 1897 founding by John Hopkins. "This is an exciting time for everyone here at the distillery and we are working with a great team to deliver Speyburn single malt Scotch whisky to our consumers around the world," says Robert Anderson, Distillery Manager. "We retain the great traditions and time- honored techniques involved with crafting our whisky; we use our instincts born from years of distillation experience at this fine distillery." Consumer education, while wonderful for the spirits industry, has birthed a pickier sip- per who favors genuinely-crafted products, making smaller producers viable competitors with larger players in the brown spirits space. Blended Scotch struggles to retain relevance; enter the Speyburn portfolio of single malt Scotch whiskies, which include Speyburn Bradan Orach, Speyburn 10 Years Old and Speyburn 25 Years Old. In a bid to satisfy growing demand from millennials, Speyburn recently added a new expression: Arranta Casks, a U.S.-exclusive offering in the biggest Scotch single malt market in the world. Meaning "daring" and "intrepid" in Scottish Gaelic, Arranta Casks embodies the ambitious spirit of the Speyburn distillery. Rich golden in appearance, Arranta Casks is a bolder take on the classic Speyburn flavor profile of citrus, vanilla and honey, brimming with vanilla, toffee and coconut flavors with a spicy, long lasting finish. Speyburn Arranta Casks is bottled at 46% ABV. "One of the main features of this superb single malt whisky is the high quality of the wood used to mature Speyburn Arranta casks," says Anderson. "The first fill American oak ex-bourbon cask has given this expres- sion its unique rich bold flavor. It is a limited release and as such is highly sought after amongst our loyal customers." Air-dried barrels—as opposed to bourbon barrels that are kiln-dried—maintain more moisture and flavor throughout the process. All expressions are distilled using water from the nearby Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey, which is famed for its purity; this, along with Speyburn's strict wood policy has ensured high quality across its spectrum of whiskies. What's next for Speyburn? Single casks, higher ages and perhaps even more limited releases. Stay tuned. Speyburn is imported by International Beverage. Single Malt Masters by Becky Tsadik IN SCOTLAND, TRADITION WELCOMES INNOVATION AT THE RENOVATED HISTORIC SPEYBURN DISTILLERY Inside the Speyburn distillery, where historic drum maltings that once ensured even malting of barley remain on-site. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPEYBURN PHOTO COURTESY OF SPEYBURN