A single cask of Springbank distilled in 1997 and bottled in October 2016 at 19 years old for Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits in California. It came from one re-charred sherry cask, bottled at full strength of 57% ABV, with 438 bottles in the US 750mL size.
About This Whisky
The spirit went into a cask in 1997 and spent 19 years in a sherry cask that had been scraped and re-charred before filling. Re-charring burns fresh life into the inner surface of an old cask, so the wood gives more colour, spice and toffee than an ordinary refill would, while keeping only a trace of the original sherry. Pacific Edge selected the cask, and it was bottled at the distillery in October 2016 at 57% ABV, yielding 438 bottles.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Clove, liquorice and allspice up front, then burnt toffee, cherry stones, old cigar box and a faint wisp of smoke.
- Palate: Dry and punchy at first, with chilli and baking spice, then rounder and oilier, with dark fruit, caramel and coastal malt.
- Finish: Long and spicy, with oak, dried cherry and a salty tail.
Serving & Food
At 57% this needs time and water. Pour a small measure, let it rest for ten minutes, then add water a little at a time until the spice settles. It stands up well to smoked brisket, Peking duck with hoisin, or a square of chilli dark chocolate.
How to Enjoy
Drinkers who enjoy spice-driven, cask-strength Springbank and single casks with a clear history.
Product Details
Distillery: Springbank
Country: Scotland
Region: Campbeltown
Bottled For: Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits (USA)
Vintage / Bottling: Distilled 1997, bottled October 2016
Age: 19 years old
Cask: Single re-charred sherry cask
Outturn: 438 bottles
ABV: 57%
Proof: 114
Volume: 750mL
About the Distillery
The distillery's own buildings tell part of Campbeltown's story. Springbank occupies structures dating back to 1828, but it also uses buildings that once belonged to neighbouring distilleries, including Longrow, Rieclachan, Union, Springside and Argyll, all long since closed. The town once had more than thirty licensed stills, and by 1891 Campbeltown was said to be the richest town in Britain per head of population. Springbank came through the long slump that followed, and today its site holds pieces of several of its old rivals.