Springbank Longrow 23 Years Old

An official Longrow single malt, a 23 year old release and bottled at 58.1%. 546 bottles in all. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery founded in 1828, a cult Campbeltown distillery with a devoted following. Concerto barley is malted on the floors and kilned in the distillery's own kiln.

It was made by double distillation of heavily peated Campbeltown malt, then cooled slowly in worm tubs. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Long ageing brings an oily depth, candied fruit and a mellow coastal salt. The cool, damp Campbeltown air by the sea gives a slow, even maturation. The open larch washbacks are a rare survival in modern Scotch. The distillery has become a place of pilgrimage for whisky enthusiasts. Kintyre's damp, mild climate suits a long and gentle maturation. The old town of Campbeltown once rivalled Speyside as Scotland's whisky heart.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.1%, it is rich. A coastal peat smoke with a briny depth ride on a sherried dried fruit and nuts. The texture is rich and oily, the salt threaded through. The finish is long, waxy and briny. This is Longrow, the heavily peated Campbeltown malt.