Springbank 31 Years Old 1974 Cask #1158 (Ian Macleod)

This is a Springbank single malt, chosen and bottled by Ian Macleod, a 31 year old release from 1974, drawn from cask 1158 and bottled at 57.2%. Just 492 bottles were filled. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery run by J and A Mitchell since 1828, famous for doing everything on site, from floor malting to bottling. The whole process, malting included, is carried out by hand on the one site.

It was distilled two and a half times from lightly peated, floor malted malt, and slowly worm tub cooled. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the oily fruit. Very old Campbeltown make turns profound, oily and tropical with a coastal salt. Worm tub condensing and an oil fired wash still build the rich, oily texture the distillery is known for. Demand far outstrips the small output, and bottles are keenly chased. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery.

At a hearty 57.2% it carries real weight. A coastal, waxy spirit with gentle peat sit over a vanilla and toffee sweetness. Beneath it run oily fruit, salt and a coastal depth. Sea salt and fruit draw out the close. This is the flagship malt of old Campbeltown.