Springbank Starkicker 21 Years Old 2000

A distillery bottling of Springbank, a 21 year old release from 2000 and bottled at 43%. Just 188 bottles were filled. Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery run by J and A Mitchell since 1828, a survivor of Campbeltown's great whisky era. Water comes from Crosshill Loch, the barley malted on the distillery's own floors.

It was distilled around two and a half times from floor malted, lightly peated barley, and worm tub cooled in the old way. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Long ageing brings an oily depth, candied fruit and a mellow 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 an easy 43% it is gentle. Brine, wax and a light peat note sit over a sherried dried fruit and nuts. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a salty body. The finish is long, waxy and briny. This is the most traditional malt in Scotch.