Speyburn Rum Cask Finish (Whisky Review): 'Like an Austrian Christmas Dessert'

Whisky doesn't have to be expensive. This is demonstrated by the Speyburn Distillery with their single malt whiskeys. There are expressions available for purchase at around three tenner. Discover how the Speyburn Rum Cask Finish stacks up in this whisky review.

The Speyside whisky region is home to numerous whiskies. Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, and The Macallan are among the more familiar names, but less well-known is the Speyburn Distillery located a bit north of Glen Grant. Established in the north of Rothes in 1897, the distillery has been producing various expressions ever since.

The distillery owes its name to a nearby water source, namely the Spey river, or in other words, the Spey Burn (see what they did there?). They retrieve the water for the whisky from one of the river's tributaries.

The distillery typically matures their whisky in refill sherry and ex-bourbon casks. Occasionally, they venture into other casks, such as with the Speyburn Rum Cask Finish whisky. The whisky initially matures in ex-bourbon casks before spending more time in rum casks.

The length of time the expression has spent in the various casks remains undisclosed. Hence, it's one of the few Speyburn expressions that doesn't bear an age statement.

The Scottish distillery didn't overcomplicate the bottle and packaging of this expression. The bottle follows the same design as the other Speyburn expressions. It's a slim, somewhat taller bottle adorned with a colored label on the neck. Besides, there's a stylish label without any unnecessary elements.

The box perfectly complements the finish of the whisky. It boasts a joyful green color featuring a pattern of foliage, lending a somewhat tropical feel to it. The box's front clearly mentions the whiskey you're holding and what to expect in terms of taste.

The Speyburn whisky on your nose is just like a rum pot. This Austrian Christmas dessert consists of mixed fruits like strawberries and tangerines. While you will not distinctly sense strawberry in this whisky, the aroma of tangerine is quite pronounced. Aside from this fruity aroma, the single malt boasts pronounced hints of vanilla and caramel with a touch of wood.

On the palate, the Speyburn is a very friendly expression, suitable for any occasion, provided you aren't intending to linger over a glass for hours. There are sweet notes of rum with vanilla and different fruit tones like peach and sweet orange. Additionally, there's a hint of maltiness in the background, altogether with notes from the usual suspects: vanilla and caramel.

Heading towards the short finish, there are some wood and cocoa powder notes with a tiny bit of pepper. The Scottish single malt smoothly disappears down the throat without leaving a persistent trail of any of the flavors that previously stimulated your senses. Owing to this and due to its sweet taste, this expression would also work perfectly in a cocktail.

The distillery from the Scottish Speyside has done an excellent job at creating an expression suitable for whisky drinkers looking for an accessible everyday whisky without having to break the bank. The Speyburn expression is pleasantly sweet and especially gentle on the palate. If you don't need too much depth or complexity and seek an in-between whisky, this is the bottle you'll want to bring home.

+ An affordable, accessible whisky

+ Fruity overall with a touch of wood

+ Excellent base for sweet cocktails

- The finish is quite short

Also, check out our other whisky reviews.