Springbank Single Cask #228 10 Years Old 1977 (Oloroso)

A distillery bottling of Springbank, a 10 year old from 1977, drawn from cask 228 and bottled at 57%. The Springbank distillery, a family distillery since 1828, is a survivor of Campbeltown's great whisky era. Little has changed in the way the spirit is made for the best part of a century.

The make was run two and a half times through the stills from lightly peated malt, and worm tub cooled in the old way. A sherry cask wrapped the oily spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Younger here, it keeps a vigorous, briny freshness over the oily body. Refill oak lets the distillery character lead, all oily weight and coastal salt. 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 cask strength 57% it is muscular. Brine, wax and a light peat note sit over dried fruit, fig and walnut. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a salty body. A long finish smoulders on salt and oil. This is the most traditional malt in Scotch.