Springbank 28 Years Old 1993 (East Asia Whisky Company)

East Asia Whisky Company selected this Springbank, a 28 year old release from 1993 and bottled at 49.2%. A release of 176 bottles. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery distilling since 1828, the most traditional distillery in Scotch, malting all its own barley. Small output and a cult following keep its bottles allocated and keenly sought.

It was run two and a half times through the stills from lightly peated malt, the vapour cooled in worm tubs. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the oily fruit. Past twenty years the spirit turns waxy and profound while keeping its character. Worm tub condensing and an oil fired wash still build the rich, oily texture the distillery is known for. The town and the sea run through every cask of the make. The sea loch at the foot of the town shapes the coastal character of the malt. Demand far outstrips the small output, and bottles are keenly chased.

Undiluted at 49.2%, it is intense. Vanilla, cream and light coconut from the cask underpins brine, wax and a light peat note. Soft fruit and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. A long, oily, coastal finish lingers. This is the most traditional malt in Scotch.