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Everything you need to know about Speyside Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Spey Chairman's Choice Wooden Box US Import 75cl£199.99 Inc VAT -
Cu Dhub The Black Blended Whisky£99.93 Inc VAT -
Drumguish Single Highland Malt Whisky 2000£54.99 Inc VAT -
Drumguish Single Highland Malt Whisky 1999£54.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
Speyside, Speyside Region, Scotland. Founded in 1971.
Speyside Distillery is a small and often overlooked distillery tucked away in a quiet corner of the Cairngorms National Park, near Kingussie in Scotland. Despite its name, it’s not a catch-all for the region — it’s an actual distillery called Speyside, which can be confusing given how well-known the wider Speyside region is.
The distillery was founded in 1990 by George Christie, with the aim of creating a more traditional, smaller-scale whisky operation. It sits beside the River Tromie, and the setting feels quite different from the larger, more industrial Speyside distilleries.
Production is relatively limited, and for many years the distillery remained under the radar. Its whisky is often released under the “Spey” brand, which is how most people come across it.
It’s the kind of distillery you don’t hear about constantly, but when you do find a bottle, it tends to offer something a bit more low-key and refined.
Taste Profile
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 |
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| Malty / Cereal | Fruity | Sweet |
Speyside Distillery produces a lighter style of single malt. You’ll often notice soft fruit notes like apple and pear, combined with honey sweetness and a gentle malt character.
The whisky tends to be clean and smooth rather than bold or heavy. There’s very little, if any, peat influence, and the oak is usually subtle, adding a touch of vanilla without dominating the flavour.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Apple / Pear |
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Malt / Biscuit / Toast |
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Honey |
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Vanilla |
Most Popular Bottles
Spey Tenné
Finished in port casks, giving the whisky a slightly sweeter and fruitier profile.
Spey Chairman’s Choice
A richer expression with more depth and oak influence.
Spey Fumare
A lightly peated version, which is unusual for the distillery.
These releases are typically bottled under the Spey name rather than “Speyside Distillery.”
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The Distillery
The Distiller: Speyside Distillery
Address: Drumguish, Kingussie, PH21 1NS, Scotland
 Open in Maps |
 speysidedistillery.co.uk |
 +44 (0)1540 661900 |
Visitor Centre & Opening Times
Yes — the distillery offers tours and tastings.
Typical opening hours
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Monday – Friday
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Around 10:00 – 16:00
Because of its smaller size, visits tend to feel more relaxed and personal compared with larger distilleries.
Ownership History
Founder
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George Christie (1990)
Current Owner
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Speyside Distillery Company Ltd
The distillery remains independently operated.
Distillery Facts
Overview & History
Speyside Distillery is a small single malt Scotch whisky distillery located at Tromie Mills near Kingussie, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
Despite its name, it is not representative of the entire Speyside region, but rather a single, relatively small distillery. Construction began in the 1960s, but due to financial issues it did not officially open until 1990.
The distillery is owned by Speyside Distillers Company and is known for its quiet, low-profile presence compared with larger Speyside producers.
Production
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Spirit Type: Single malt Scotch whisky
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Stills: Small copper pot stills
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Water Source: River Tromie
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Cask Policy: Mainly ex-bourbon with some sherry cask maturation
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Production Scale: Small, traditional output
The distillery operates on a much smaller scale than most Speyside producers, focusing on steady, consistent production rather than high volume.
Whisky Style
Speyside Distillery whisky typically shows:
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Light and delicate body
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Honey and vanilla sweetness
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Soft orchard fruit (apple, pear)
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Gentle malt character
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Clean, smooth finish
The style aligns with classic lighter Speyside profiles.
Key Expressions
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Speyside “Drumguish” – Core entry-level release
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Speyside 12 Year Old – More mature expression
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Speyside 15 Year Old – Richer and more developed
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Various small batch and limited releases
The Drumguish bottling is the most widely recognised expression.
Significance
Speyside Distillery is notable mainly for its name, which often causes confusion with the wider Speyside whisky region.
In reality, it is a small, independent-style distillery producing a traditional Speyside profile, offering a contrast to the large-scale industrial producers that dominate the region.
Speyside Whisky to Buy
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