Springbank Local Barley 32 Years Old 1966

This Springbank, an official release, a 32 year old from 1966, drawn from cask 1966 498 and bottled at 55.3%. The Springbank distillery, a family distillery since 1828, is one of the last working distilleries of old Campbeltown. The cult around Springbank has made it one of the most collected of all malts.

The make was distilled two and a half times from lightly peated, floor malted malt, then condensed through worm tubs. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. At this great age the malt is full and waxy, the fruit deep and the salt mellow. Sea air works into the warehouses, lending a saline thread as the whisky breathes. 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. The Mitchell family has held the distillery for five generations. The town and the sea run through every cask of the make.

At a natural 55.3% it is full and oily. An oily, maritime character with light peat are layered with vanilla, cream and light coconut. A coastal salt and an orchard fruit lift it. It closes long, oily and salty. This is an oily, salty Campbeltown classic.