Springbank Longrow 18 Years Old

This Longrow, an official release, aged 18 year old and bottled at 46%. In Mitchell family hands since 1828, Springbank is the most traditional distillery in Scotch, malting all its own barley. Hedley Wright's family has kept the distillery independent for the best part of two centuries.

The spirit was run twice through the stills from heavily peated malt, and condensed in traditional worm tubs. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the oily fruit. Mid age brings a fuller fruit and a deeper coastal complexity. Worm tub condensing and an oil fired wash still build the rich, oily texture the distillery is known for. Kintyre's damp, mild climate suits a long and gentle maturation. The old town of Campbeltown once rivalled Speyside as Scotland's whisky heart. Quality and tradition, not volume, have always been the watchwords here. The spirit is filled to cask and matured within the distillery walls.

At 46% it is clean and characterful. Vanilla, honey and coconut from the cask underpins a robust peat reek over brine. Beneath it run oily fruit, salt and a coastal depth. Sea salt and fruit draw out the close. This is a robust, smoky Campbeltown whisky.