Springbank Private Bottling 34 Years Old 1969

A distillery bottling of Springbank matured to 34 year old from 1969, drawn from cask 55 and bottled at 47.6%. 155 bottles in all. Established in 1828, Springbank is a survivor of Campbeltown's great whisky era. Each bottling is filled and labelled in Campbeltown rather than shipped away.

The spirit was drawn off after two and a half distillations of gently peated malt, then cooled slowly in worm tubs. Ex-Bourbon casks held the spirit, soft oak that lets the make lead. Very old Campbeltown make turns profound, oily and tropical with a coastal salt. Refill oak lets the distillery character lead, all oily weight and coastal salt. 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. Few distilleries keep so much of the old craft alive under one roof.

At a hearty 47.6% it carries real weight. Brine, wax and a light peat note sit over vanilla, honey and coconut. The texture is rich and oily, the salt threaded through. Salt and oily fruit see out a long finish. This is a complex, coastal Campbeltown whisky.