Springbank 14 Years Old 2004 Cask #402 (Cadenhead’s)

Single malt Springbank, an independent Cadenhead's bottling, aged 14 year old from 2004, drawn from cask 402 and bottled at 54.4%. Springbank, run by J and A Mitchell since 1828 in Campbeltown, is a family distillery that malts and bottles every drop on site. The family owner also holds Cadenhead's, the oldest independent bottler in Scotland.

This was floor malted, lightly peated and distilled two and a half times, with the spirit condensed in worm tubs. Ex-Sherry wood suited the heavy make, adding a dried fruit richness. Around the mid teens the malt gains depth while keeping its oily salt. The cool, damp Campbeltown air by the sea gives a slow, even maturation. Today just three distilleries survive in the old Kintyre whisky town. 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.

At cask strength 54.4% it is muscular. Dried fruit and a walnut richness meets an oily, maritime character with light peat. The texture is rich and oily, the salt threaded through. The finish is long, waxy and briny. This is a revered Campbeltown single malt.