Speyburn, part of the Inver House group that also houses anCnoc and Old Pulteney among others, had a recent brand makeover. The new bottles are more modern and they’ve presented Clan Speyburn, a community for fans of the distillery.

One of the privileges of the Clan members is the possibility to purchase exclusive whisky releases. The first of these Clan casks (available February 2013), is a Speyburn 1975 single cask. Cask #3413 comes from the famous Pedro Domecq bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera and ‘most probably’ held Pedro Ximénez sherry.

I had a chance to try a March 2012 sample of this cask and I was quite charmed…

Speyburn 37 yo 1975 ‘Clan cask’ (55,8%, OB 2012, Clan Speyburn exclusive, sherry butt #3413)

Nose: plays the card of polished oak and sherry. Raisins and elegant spices. Quite some citrus / orange marmalade. A few floral hints (dandelions) and hay as well. Some tobacco. After a while the oak polish (with quite some estery hints of glue at first) diminishes and makes place for juicy red fruits (raspberry jam and redcurrant). Quite excellent. Mouth: sweetish start, quite assertive and immediately spicy: pepper, ginger, cinnamon. Still nice and fruity, hints of forest fruit candy. Chocolate mousse. Hints of mint and liquorice.  It’s not totally free of tannins but it’s impressively vibrant. Finish: long, half fruity / half oaky. Still nicely fruity.

This is an excellent sherried whisky and a great surprise from Speyburn. Around € 270. Sadly only available for UK customers. That’s a shame and disappointing for a supposedly worldwide clan.

Score: 91/100