Springbank Longrow 2001 (53.9%)

An official Longrow single malt, a 10 year old release from 2001 and bottled at 53.9%. 611 bottles in all. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery run by J and A Mitchell since 1828, a survivor of Campbeltown's great whisky era. Water comes from Crosshill Loch, the barley malted on the distillery's own floors.

It was given Longrow's double distillation of heavily peated barley, and worm tub cooled in the old way. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. At a youthful age the make is lively, salty and full of character. Refill oak lets the distillery character lead, all oily weight and coastal salt. The town and the sea run through every cask of the make. The sea loch at the foot of the town shapes the coastal character of the malt. Demand far outstrips the small output, and bottles are keenly chased. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery.

At a full 53.9% it is bold and oily. A coastal peat smoke with a briny depth sit over a sherried dried fruit and nuts. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a salty body. The finish is long, waxy and briny. This is the peated face of Campbeltown.