Springbank 50 Years Old

An official Springbank single malt, a 50 year old release and bottled at 40.5%. A release of 580 bottles. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery run by J and A Mitchell since 1828, famous for doing everything on site, from floor malting to bottling. Campbeltown was its own protected whisky region long before the revival.

It was distilled around two and a half times from floor malted, lightly peated barley, and slowly worm tub cooled. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. At three decades and more it is rich and oily, tropical fruit, beeswax and salt in a deep, old malt. A patient maturation suits the rich, complex Campbeltown spirit. Demand far outstrips the small output, and bottles are keenly chased. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery. The open larch washbacks are a rare survival in modern Scotch.

At 40.5% it is soft, oily and coastal. Brine, wax and a light peat note sit over creamy vanilla and oak sweetness. It is rich and layered, the fruit and salt well matched. The finish is long, waxy and briny. This is a hand made Campbeltown single malt.