Springbank 1969

35 year old Campbeltown 58.8 % vol

1 of 425 bottles from cask no. 149 

Of all malts, Springbank takes great age best. When Adelphi started trading old Springbanks were occasionally to be found. They have passed into legend, and their like are now as rare as hen's teeth. This is a refill butt and has given the whisky a good mahogany hue - not as dark as some we have seen, but indicating that the whisky may not have been dominated by wood. As is confirmed immediately on the nose: all fruit and nuts - a rum-toft of plums, peaches, apples, pineapple, with traces of almond oil (and possibly linseed oil) and a shaving of oak in the background. A surprisingly lively nose for its age, with some nose prickle. Tasted straight, the effect is very tannic; mouth-drying and somewhat bitter. Water brings the oily notes forward (adding scented wax), introduces some burnt sugar and hot sand, shortens the fruity notes (now pears) and turns the nuts into dry marzipan. Viscous, even waxy mouth-feel; surprisingly cooling. Some sweetness to start but predominantly spicy (cloves, liquorice, eucalyptus), and bitter as coffee beans. Finishes very long and medicinal-cooling, with a return of the spice. An extraordinary whisky, to be savoured with dark chocolate, espresso coffee and Robusto Havana!

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