Springbank Local Barley 23 Years Old 1970

An official Springbank single malt, a 23 year old from 1970, drawn from cask 1766 and bottled at 46%. Just 268 bottles were filled. The Springbank distillery, in Mitchell family hands since 1828, is a byword for traditional Scotch whisky making. The family owner also holds Cadenhead's, the oldest independent bottler in Scotland.

The make was run two and a half times through the stills from lightly peated malt, with the spirit condensed 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. The hands on, small scale working shapes a spirit of real individuality. 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. 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.

At an easy 46% it is gentle. A briny, oily depth with a hint of peat ride on a vanilla and toffee sweetness. A waxy weight and a saline tang give it real body. A long finish smoulders on salt and oil. This is Springbank's rich, oily, maritime style.