Springbank Vintage 12 Years Old 1996

An official Springbank single malt, a 12 year old release from 1996, drawn from cask 256 and bottled at 56%. 634 bottles in all. Springbank has distilled in Campbeltown since 1828, a byword for traditional Scotch whisky making. The whole process, malting included, is carried out by hand on the one site.

It was made by Springbank's singular two and a half times distillation, and slowly worm tub cooled. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the spirit. By this age the maritime weight rounds into a richer, fuller malt. The hands on, small scale working shapes a spirit of real individuality. The Mitchell family has held the distillery for five generations. 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.

At a hearty 56% it carries real weight. A briny, oily depth with a hint of peat ride on vanilla, cream and light coconut. It is rich and layered, the fruit and salt well matched. The finish runs deep, briny and warm. This is a hand made Campbeltown single malt.