Springbank is the oldest independent family owned distillery in Scotland, working in Campbeltown since 1828 under J. & A. Mitchell & Co., and it is famous for doing what almost nobody else does: every single stage of production happens on site, including traditional floor malting of its own barley. Most of the range carries serious age, with the 10, 15 and 18 year old bottlings doing the heavy lifting. This one deliberately does not. At five years old and bottled at full cask strength, the 114 Proof shows Springbank's spirit at an early stage, before long maturation has smoothed the edges off it, and that is precisely the appeal. What you get is the distillery character running close to the surface: briny sea spray and damp hay on the nose alongside vanilla shortbread, lemon peel and a wisp of oak smoke, then a rich, oily palate of honeyed cereal, orchard fruit, orange peel and toasted oak, with white pepper and coastal salinity carrying a long, dry finish. Maturation is in a combination of ex bourbon and refill casks, chosen so the wood stays out of the way and the spirit does the talking. It is bottled non chill filtered at natural colour, as everything from Springbank is, which means a natural haze in cold conditions is expected rather than a fault. Springbank produces around 175,000 litres a year across three brands, which is a rounding error by modern Scotch standards, and demand consistently outstrips it. Drink this neat and add water a few drops at a time.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
57.0% |
| Proof |
114 |
| Size |
700ml |
| Country |
Scotland |
| Region |
Campbeltown |
| Distillery |
Springbank Distillery, Campbeltown, established 1828 |
| Producer |
J. & A. Mitchell & Co. Ltd. |
| Importer |
Pacific Edge Imports, Westlake Village, CA |
| Category |
Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Expression |
114 Proof, 5 Year Old |
| Age |
5 Years |
| Mashbill |
100% Malted Barley, floor malted on site |
| Maturation |
Ex bourbon and refill casks |
| Distillation |
Two and a half times |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Colour |
Natural |
| Strength |
Cask strength |
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright pale gold, entirely natural.
Nose: Briny sea spray and damp hay lead, with vanilla shortbread, lemon peel, green apple and a wisp of oak smoke.
Palate: Rich and oily. Honeyed cereal and vanilla cream carry orchard fruit and orange peel, with white pepper and toasted oak building through.
Finish: Long, warming and dry, with ground white pepper, sea salt and lingering sweet malt.
FAQ
Q: Why bottle a five year old whisky?
A: To show the distillery character before long maturation softens it. Most of the Springbank range carries far more age, so this expression is spirit driven rather than wood driven.
Q: What proof is it?
A: 114 proof, which is 57.0 percent alcohol by volume, bottled at cask strength.
Q: Is it chill filtered or coloured?
A: Neither. All Springbank bottlings are non chill filtered at natural colour, so a natural haze in cold conditions is normal and expected.
Q: What casks is it matured in?
A: A combination of ex bourbon and refill casks, selected to let the spirit character come through rather than the wood.
Q: What makes Springbank unusual?
A: It is the oldest independent family owned distillery in Scotland and carries out every production stage on site, including traditional floor malting, which almost no other distillery does.
Q: Where can I buy Springbank 114 Proof 5 Year Old online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
