Springbank 12 Years Old Cask #Batch 17

An official Springbank single malt, a 12 year old release, drawn from cask Batch 17 and bottled at 56.2%. Springbank, distilling since 1828 in Campbeltown, is a byword for traditional Scotch whisky making. The family owner also holds Cadenhead's, the oldest independent bottler in Scotland.

This was run through the distillery's part triple distillation, the malt floor malted and gently peated, with the spirit condensed in worm tubs. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. Past a decade the oily spirit deepens, fruit and salt knitting with the oak. The hands on, small scale working shapes a spirit of real individuality. The open larch washbacks are a rare survival in modern Scotch. The distillery has become a place of pilgrimage for whisky enthusiasts. Kintyre's damp, mild climate suits a long and gentle maturation. The old town of Campbeltown once rivalled Speyside as Scotland's whisky heart.

At 56.2%, undiluted, it is deep and powerful. A briny, oily depth with a hint of peat ride on vanilla, cream and light coconut. A waxy weight and a saline tang give it real body. A warming, oily finish lingers long. This is Springbank's rich, oily, maritime style.