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The Distillery History.

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Built on the site of an old gallows, the Speyburn Distillery was founded in 1897 by John Hopkins and Co., who at the time also owned the Tobermory Distillery on Mull.

The founders were determined that whisky would be produced to mark the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria, and workers in heavy overcoats toiled through a blizzard on the night of the last day of the year, in a stillhouse without doors or windows to ensure that one single barrel of 1897 vintage Speyburn was made.

John Hopkins sold the distillery in 1916 to DCL, and from 1939 to 1947 the distillery was temporarily closed when the site was used to house two Scottish Artillery regiments during the war.

In 1967 the drum maltings ceased operation - although they are still retained on the site and are now protected by Scottish Heritage

Many of the original distillery fittings remain, and are still used, in this very traditional Malt Whisky distillery.

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