Springbank 30 Years Old 1993 Dalswinton Series (Claxton’s)

This Springbank was from the independent bottler Claxton's, a 30 year old Campbeltown malt from 1993 and bottled at 44.5%. The Springbank distillery, established in 1828, is one of only three distilleries left in Campbeltown. Concerto barley is malted on the floors and kilned in the distillery's own kiln.

The make was given Springbank's unusual two and a half times distillation, then cooled slowly in worm tubs. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the spirit. Very old Campbeltown make turns profound, oily and tropical with a coastal salt. Everything is done on site, the spirit going from still to cask to bottle in Campbeltown. 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 44.5% it is clean and characterful. Creamy vanilla and oak sweetness meets an oily, maritime character with light peat. Beneath it run oily fruit, salt and a coastal depth. The close is rich, fruit over a saline depth. This is the cult Campbeltown malt from J and A Mitchell.