Springbank Longrow 1997 (56.1%)

An official Longrow single malt, aged 14 year old from 1997 and bottled at 56.1%. The outturn was 7800 bottles. Springbank, run by J and A Mitchell since 1828 in Campbeltown, is one of only three distilleries left in Campbeltown. Little has changed in the way the spirit is made for the best part of a century.

This was given Longrow's double distillation of heavily peated barley, and worm tub cooled in the old way. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and honey. By this age the maritime weight rounds into a richer, fuller malt. The oily, robust make carries cask flavour while holding its own character. 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. Demand far outstrips the small output, and bottles are keenly chased. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery.

At a full 56.1% it is bold and oily. Creamy vanilla and oak sweetness meets heavy smoke over brine and wax. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a salty body. A warming, oily finish lingers long. This is Springbank's heavily peated Longrow.