Springbank Longrow 2000 Cask #06/142-5

This Longrow, an official release, a 6 year old release from 2000, drawn from cask 06/142-5 and bottled at 56.6%. 300 bottles in all. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery distilling since 1828, the most traditional distillery in Scotch, malting all its own barley. The distillery champions the old, slow, labour intensive way of making whisky.

It was run twice through the stills from heavily peated malt, and condensed in traditional worm tubs. A wine cask gave a fruity, spiced depth to the make. At a youthful age the make is lively, salty and full of character. Worm tub condensing and an oil fired wash still build the rich, oily texture the distillery is known for. Today just three distilleries survive in the old Kintyre whisky town. The maritime warehouses by the sea lend the malt its briny, oily depth. A 1940s Porteus mill and an open iron mash tun are part of the old setup.

At 56.6%, undiluted, it is deep and powerful. Dark berry and a wine spice from the cask underpins a coastal peat smoke with a briny depth. Beneath it run oily fruit, salt and a coastal depth. A long, oily, coastal finish lingers. This is a robust, smoky Campbeltown whisky.