Springbank Society Bottling 8 Years Old 2017

This Springbank, an official release, an 8 year old Campbeltown malt from 2017 and bottled at 54.7%. A release of 1761 bottles. The Springbank distillery, a family distillery since 1828, is one of the last working distilleries of old Campbeltown. It makes three malts: Springbank, the peated Longrow and the unpeated Hazelburn.

The make was distilled two and a half times from lightly peated, floor malted malt, then condensed through worm tubs. A wine cask held it, layering berry fruit over the coastal malt. Younger here, it keeps a vigorous, briny freshness over the oily body. Sea air works into the warehouses, lending a saline thread as the whisky breathes. Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn each show a different face of the one distillery. 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.

At its natural 54.7% it is concentrated. An oily, maritime character with light peat are layered with raisin and a caramelised nuttiness. A coastal salt and an orchard fruit lift it. It closes long, oily and salty. This is an oily, salty Campbeltown classic.