SPRINGBANK SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

Greetings Society Members

Things are starting to hot up here in Springbank, and I don’t mean theweather. We are getting into Open Day mode and starting to think about tours for this year.

We also have a new bottle out within the next couple of weeks – not for the Society – for general release, but I’ll tell you more about that later in the newsletter.

OPEN DAY – THURSDAY 24TH MAY

We will of course be having Masterclasses at both Springbank and Glengyle, but probably a slightly different format this year, so that you don’t get fed up with the same thing every year. These will be hosted by Gavin & Frank and Ranald.

We are also having a Springbank tasting in the Tasting Room with a little food to match the whisky in the morning, hosted by Jenny. In the afternoon there will be a Cadenhead tasting in the Tasting Room hosted by Grant, who has started to nag me already that I sold far too many tickets last year. BUT I am ignoring him. There will also be tastings in one of the warehouses, buy the tickets for this on the day – no need to book this one.

There will be two single casks, bottled on the day, still to be chosen. Free tours will be at specified times, so that we don’t get in the way of the Master Classes.

Local crafters will be joining us with a selection of their products: Gigha’s Natural Skin care, The Bathtime Cafe, Kintyre Design, Kintye Lampwork, Wee Toon Carver, Kintyre Candles, Eric Norman (wood turner), cheese from the local Creamery, with hopefully a few others.

There will be food from Auntie Mo’s, Ifferdale Lamb and we hope MacMillan Smokehouse. Fyne Ales will also be joining us for the entire day.

Music has still to be confirmed but there will be live music during the day, and in the early evening we will have one of the junior Pipe Bands, followed by another live musician (to be confirmed).

This year we will again have a “spooks” tour, and I have been promised it will be bigger and scarier than last year.

If we can keep Donald calm during the day he will be cooking burgers in the evening. I have probably forgotten some of the things we will have, but I will be updating as we go along. The master classes will have to be booked in advance as will the Tastings in the Tasting Room – Grant keeps reminding me that space is limited here!!!

Society Golf Open

This year’s golf open is being held on Friday 25th May at Machrihanish Golf Course. I am just finalising the details, but can tell you that it will be played as a 4 ball, tee off times between 9.06 am and 10.42 am. We are arranging for bacon rolls and coffee pre golf with a carvery lunch at the end. I will send the details of how to book your tee time very soon.

RUNDLETS & KILDERKINS

This will be available within the next few weeks from the shop – the price will be £57 plus postage and packing, but you will get your discount of 10%.

Here’s a wee photograph and a wee cartoon with the tasting notes: For the most part of the 17th and the 18th centuries Campbeltown was a smuggling centre, an occupation that was supported by the area’s geography, topography…. and the local gentry. One famous story tells of an old woman living in the town who was up before the Sheriff for smuggling. She had been found guilty and before passing sentence the Sheriff told her:

Colour: Russet

Nose: Honey, vanilla, chocolate, nougat and toffee in abundance followed by hints of wholesome freshly
ground nutmeg.

Palate: Creamy and rich as expected from the nose, with notes of chocolate covered honey comb mixed with
pistachio and crushed almonds. Rich and oily from its maturation in small casks, it gives an impression of  being older than its ten years.

Finish: “e ground nutmeg is still evident on the finish but the creaminess outstays the spices to a long smooth and sweet finish. With water this dram develops and even sweeter finish, fruity and sugar candy, it becomes even smoother.

So, as you can see, it is full steam ahead towards May.

We still have some of the latest Society bottling, Longrow 10 year old from a fresh sherry cask at £45 and we also have some of the Springbank 14 year old bottled in 2010 for Society members, also at £45.

We will be looking for something else to bottle for you very soon. I’ll see if we can get something a wee bit older, with some spiders in it!

Springbank spiders are very scary.

Janet
Contact Janet via society@springbankwhisky.com for details on how to join the Springbank Society

J & A Mitchell and Co Ltd, The Tasting Room, 9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, Argyll, PA28 6HZ
Tel : + 44(0) 1586 552009 Fax : + 44(0) 1586 553232

Visit Springbank Distillery at http://www.springbankwhisky.com