Springbank 10 Years Old (56.2%)

A distillery bottling of Springbank, a 10 year old release from 2009 and bottled at 56.2%. Just 9000 bottles were filled. Springbank, founded in 1828 in Campbeltown, is famous for doing everything on site, from floor malting to bottling. Campbeltown was its own protected whisky region long before the revival.

This was run through the distillery's part triple distillation, the malt floor malted and gently peated, and slowly worm tub cooled. A sherry cask wrapped the oily spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At a youthful age the make is lively, salty and full of character. A patient maturation suits the rich, complex Campbeltown spirit. Demand far outstrips the small output, and bottles are keenly chased. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery. The open larch washbacks are a rare survival in modern Scotch. The distillery has become a place of pilgrimage for whisky enthusiasts.

At its natural 56.2% it is concentrated. Brine, wax and a light peat note sit over dried fruit and a vanilla oak. It is rich and layered, the fruit and salt well matched. A warming, oily finish lingers long. This is a hand made Campbeltown single malt.