Springbank Private Bottling 21 Years Old 1999

This official Springbank single malt, a 21 year old Campbeltown malt from 1999, drawn from cask 292 and bottled at 49.8%. Just 288 bottles were filled. Springbank, distilling since 1828 in Campbeltown, is prized for its rich, oily, hand made spirit. Hedley Wright's family has kept the distillery independent for the best part of two centuries.

This was distilled the Springbank way, two and a half times from floor malted barley, and condensed in traditional worm tubs. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the oily fruit. Long ageing brings an oily depth, candied fruit and a mellow coastal salt. Long maturation suits the heavy, characterful make, the cask knitting slowly with the spirit. Quality and tradition, not volume, have always been the watchwords here. The spirit is filled to cask and matured within the distillery walls. Few distilleries keep so much of the old craft alive under one roof.

At its natural 49.8% it is concentrated. A coastal, waxy spirit with gentle peat meet vanilla, honey and coconut from the cask. Beneath it run oily fruit, salt and a coastal depth. The close is rich, fruit over a saline depth. This is the flagship malt of old Campbeltown.