Springbank 30 Years Old 1994 Whiskyland Chapter Fifteen (Decadent Drinks)

From Decadent Drinks comes this Springbank, aged 30 year old from 1994 and bottled at 44.8%. Only 238 bottles were released. Springbank, run by J and A Mitchell since 1828 in Campbeltown, is run much as it was a century ago. Uniquely in Scotch, every drop is floor malted, distilled, matured and bottled on the one site.

This was distilled around two and a half times from floor malted, lightly peated barley, and run into cast iron worm tubs. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and honey. At three decades and more it is rich and oily, tropical fruit, beeswax and salt in a deep, old malt. Refill oak lets the distillery character lead, all oily weight and coastal salt. 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. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery.

Bottled at a cask strength 44.8%, it is rich. Creamy vanilla and oak sweetness from the cask underpins brine, wax and a light peat note. The texture is rich and oily, the salt threaded through. Salt and oily fruit see out a long finish. This is Springbank's rich, oily, maritime style.