Speyburn 21 Years Old

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 26 by Michael Jackson and Jim Murray.

Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes.

• Issue 26 online • Buy issue 26 (£5.95)
• Subscribe to Whisky Magazine (from £28.38)
• Preview current issue (74) • Preview other issues online

Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Flowery, leafy, peaty. Palate Clean. Reticent at first, but develops a good long malt background, then fresh, herbal, heathery notes. Finish Nutty sweetness, becoming drier. Late peaty warmth. Comment Very restrained, but lovely gentle peat smoke.

Jim Murray Nose Marvellously rich and fruity. Unmistakable sherry influence but lifted in complexity by a hint of raspberry, apple and peat. The oaky vanilla is beautifully synchronised with a mollasses sweetness, the sweet pipe tobacco. Palate An immediate explosion of spice and sweet oloroso defuses slowly so the malt gains a firm and chewy hand. Very substantial. Finish Slightly hard and metallic with some smoke and malt still hanging on against the drying oak. Comment Highly impressive whisky, quite exceptional for a Speyburn. Only the over-firm finale stops this from being one of the top five Speyside expressions of the last five years.