Springbank 10 year old Local Barley

Profile: The Springbank 10 year old Local Barley at a Glance

• Campbeltown Tradition: Distilled at the Springbank Distillery
• Local Barley: Only barley from the Clochkiel Farm is used
• Limited Bottling: The eleventh edition of the Local Barley range
• Elegant Cask Maturation: 40% ex-Sherry & 60% ex-Bourbon casks
• Natural: No added colorings & Without chill filtration

Portrait: What makes the Springbank 10 year old Local Barley special

The Springbank 10 year old Local Barley is a whisky that immediately signals: "Here comes someone with roots." And we mean that literally, because for this eleventh bottling of the Local Barley series, only Bere barley from the Clochkiel farm on the Kintyre peninsula was used - a place so Scottish that even the sheep could look kilt-wearing. Bere, an ancient variety of barley, is not simply an ingredient here, but a kind of VIP guest in the production process. You could say: the barley gets a red carpet treatment before it goes into malt.

Behind this venerable dram stands Springbank Distillery, one of the last family-run distilleries in Scotland, which has managed to remain independent for generations. Founded in 1828, Springbank has seen almost everything: whisky booms, whisky busts, and a whole host of other distilleries that have gone under, while Springbank is still proudly polishing its copper stills. Here, everything is still done by hand: malting, distilling, maturing – all under one roof and without marketing tricks that promise more glamour than the whisky can deliver.

The Local Barley range takes this approach to the next level by putting the barley's origin front and center.

The 10 year old Local Barley bottling uses 60% ex-bourbon and 40% ex-sherry casks, elegantly emphasizing the idea of ​​a "local expression". Each bottle thus tells not only the story of Springbank, but also of Clochkiel Farm, the fields, and the wind on Kintyre. At 55.2% ABV, the Springbank 10 Year Old Local Barley also shows that it's no timid neighbor, but rather makes a confident entrance – without ever being intrusive.

In short: If you're looking for a whisky that combines tradition, craftsmanship, and a touch of Scottish down-to-earthness, this is the one for you. And incidentally, it proves that you can really taste good barley – or at least present it with great dignity.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Springbank 10 year old Local Barley tastes like

• Nose: On the nose, sweet aromas of fig rolls, date syrup, and plums are initially revealed, accompanied by a spicy kick of star anise. This interplay gives the Local Barley a complex and inviting opening.
• Palate: On the palate, savory elements become more prominent. Flavors of burdock, shiitake mushrooms, and tamari soy sauce combine with subtle licorice notes, creating an unusually multi-layered, slightly earthy texture.
• Finish: The finish is long and distinctive. Smoky hints of campfire ash meet sweet, rich notes of treacle molasses, leaving a lasting and impressive impression.