The Malt Cask

  Still with Claxton's Spirits and next up from The Dalswinton’s Series second edition is this 30 year-old Springbank! It was distilled in 1993, aged in a Hogshead and bottled at 44.5%. Distillery:  Springbank Bottler:  Claxton's Age:  30 years old Distilled:  28/05/1993 Bottled:  2024 Cask:  Hogshead Abv:  44.5% Unchillfiltered:  Yes Natural Colour:  Yes Nb of bottles:   Price:  £ Extra:  Part of the Dalswinton Series - Second Edition My tasting notes: Nose:  The nose is fresh and citrusy, green apples and pears, citrus zest, hints of mint, floral honey, orange marmalade with a sprinkle of cinnamon, salty coastal breeze, some oak spice. Underneath it all there are some industrial oily notes but they’re very well integrated. Wow…! Palate:  The palate is oily and quite sweet with some salted caramel mixed with biscuits and citrus fruit again (orange, tangerine) before dried oak, spices and slight industrial notes ...

Second review in one month, and more Campbeltown whisky courtesy of @whisky_whims with the second sample Stuart sent to me: Longrow 18. Like with Kilkerran, I am looking at a peated single malt from Campbeltown but this one is a little older and was aged in ex-rum casks for 60% of it and refill sherry casks for the remaining 40%.  Longrow is produced by the Springbank distillery. Springbank is their mildly peated single malt and has been distilled two and a half times. Hazelburn is the name of their triple distilled non-peated single malt, and Longrow is their double distilled highly peated single malt. Longrow 18 is released in small batches each year but the casks used vary from year on year so do check the bottling date printed in black underneath the back label to know which one you have in your hand! That you very much again to Stuart for this great sample. Go and have a look at Whisky Whims' YouTube channel and check out his review of this Longrow 18! Slàinte! ...

Springbank is one of these names you hear mentioned quite a few time when you start your whisky journey. It is not a name everyone knows like Glenfiddich, Macallan or Laphroaig, but it is one whisky enthusiasts tend to look for and recommend. Springbank is one of three distilleries in Campbeltown, alongside Glen Scotia and Glengyle. Springbank also make three different types of whisky all bottled under different names: Springbank is their slightly peated two-and-a-half times distilled single malt, Longrow is their peated twice distilled single malt and Hazelburn is their non-peated tripled distilled single malt. I didn't get to try any Springbank for a few years before I decided to purchase a bottle of the 10 years old. Strangely enough, I didn't open this bottle straight away as I had too many already opened and it has actually still been sitting on my shelves unopened since. The reviews I read online were very positive about the 10 but people's favourite seemed to be...