Springbank 10 Year
There is no question at this moment that Springbank is king of Campbeltown. Having a number of ranges, the main line of offerings is a little unusual in today’s whisky market in being comprised of only scotches with age statements. This distillery, completely family owned, takes great pride in doing the entire whisky-making process on site, from start to finish. The old ways are the good ways, they believe, and it’s hard to argue with their results. For the past several years, the distillery has also offered a Whisky School, which is probably even more amazing than it sounds. While the Hazelburn line is distilled three times and the Longrow twice, the Springbank 10 is distilled two-and-a-half times, providing a product distinct from either.
Caol Ila 12 Year
Situated on the east coast of Islay across from the isle of Jura, Caol Ila (pronounced “Cull Eela”) is Gaelic for Sound of Islay or Islay Strait and is near Port Askaig. The distillery has a colorful history, having changed ownership several times, including having the actual buildings demolished and rebuilt as recently as 1974. Though there are single malt expressions offered, it is also used in blends like Johnnie Walker and Black Bottle. It is currently the largest distillery on Islay, and is notable for having a lighter, sweeter flavor than other single malts from this island. The malted barley is sourced from Port Ellen and is peat smoked at the same location as the malt for Lagavulin. After production, the whisky is aged and bottled in a warehouse in Glasgow.
Lagavulin 16 Year
The Lagavulin 16 is a winner. We’re not saying that just from our own experience. Rather, this standard edition of the Lagavulin distillery has consistently been ranked highly in whisky competitions, winning gold awards and earning other top marks in competitions and ratings around the world over the past fifteen years. To be sure, this is not a scotch meant for those who prefer gentler tastes and refrained flavors. Having their workhorse be aged 16 years means this distillery is willing to be patient so they can craft something worth the wait. Not a bad work ethic to have in regards to scotch. All right, enough teasing. Let’s dive in.