Springbank 21 Years Old (43%)

A distillery bottling of Springbank, a 21 year old Campbeltown malt and bottled at 43%. The Springbank distillery, a family distillery since 1828, is a survivor of Campbeltown's great whisky era. Water comes from Crosshill Loch, the barley malted on the distillery's own floors.

The make was run two and a half times through the stills from lightly peated malt, and worm tub cooled in the old way. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed sweetness. Long ageing brings an oily depth, candied fruit and a mellow coastal salt. Refill oak lets the distillery character lead, all oily weight and coastal salt. 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 43% it is clean and characterful. Brine, wax and a light peat note sit over a vanilla and toffee sweetness. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a salty body. A long finish smoulders on salt and oil. This is the most traditional malt in Scotch.