Springbank Society – February ‘19 Quarterly
We are delighted to be back with the latest, exciting Society Quarterly. You’ve been hearing from us a lot recently, as we have been announcing Campbeltown Malts Festival information over the last couple of weeks.
Before we get into the main part of this newsletter, please allow us to remind you that the tickets for Festival events taking place on Thursday 23rd + Friday 24th May 2019 go on sale next week on Wednesday 13th February at 2pm (UK time). Last minute Valentine’s Day gift?
During this email we have some distillery news and production developments to let you know about, two new distillery releases to announce and a rundown of our Sales Team’s upcoming trips and events.
Distillery News
As part of these Quarterly Newsletters, we always like to take the opportunity to update all our Society members on what has been happening in and around the Distillery over the last few months. This time, we decided to ask a guest writer to let us know about all the work that has been going on…
Director of Production Findlay Ross brings us the latest from Springbank and Glengyle;
SPRINGBANK
Production at Springbank finished back in August and only recently started up again, so much needed maintenance was performed during the silent period. The gear and bearing on the mash tun was repaired and adjusted to allow a better rotation of the stirring arm, and the scraping arm on the bottom was adjusted to help clear more draff at the end of mashing (so less work for the production team hosing away draff!). The cast iron Hot liquor tanks were lined with stainless steel as some sections were starting to corrode, and the steam line to the washbacks was also replaced with stainless steel to allow for a better clean of the washbacks.
January saw us start a planned 34 weeks of Production! This is the most ever seen at Springbank in modern times. The mild weather at the start of the year was a big help to the malting team (although we have had some snow more recently) as they began producing Hazelburn malt to be distilled in a couple of months time.
GLENGYLE
November and December saw full time production at Glengyle, as we were able to utilise the new malt intake and new washback for the first time. We completed 12 weeks of production for the first time since the distillery re-opened, including a couple of “kilkeriments” that fans can look forward to tasting in the coming years. Kilkerran will now fall silent until September. Just like with Springbank during the silent period, again we will utilise this time in a productive way, allowing us to make some much needed repairs by replacing washbacks 1&2, along with a variety of pumps, valves and piping.
Two New Releases from Springbank Distillery.
We delighted to confirm the upcoming release of the new Longrow Red 11yo and the latest edition of our Springbank 25yo.
Both bottlings will be available from Friday 15th February 2019.
Longrow Red 11yo, Pinot Noir Cask Matured, 53.1%
The Longrow Red 11yo spent the first eight years in bourbon casks then three years in refill Pinot Noir Barriques from New Zealand. There are approximately 9000 bottles available worldwide.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Creamy, red apples. Homemade rhubarb crumble with lots of confectionary notes. Red liquorice and maraschino cherries.
Palate: Delicate, soft and smooth. A perfect balance of Pinot Noir wine & Longrow. Red fruits, raspberry jam and cranberry. This is followed by burnt embers and tobacco leaf with hints of smoke.
Finish: More of the Longrow characteristics; creamy, smoky, sultanas and some nuttiness.
This bottling will be available from Friday 15th February – please note that the release date in various markets and countries is likely to vary. For details on when the Longrow Red 11yo is available near you please consult your preferred Springbank retailer or visit the “Where to Buy” section of our website to find a Springbank stockist.
- The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling this bottle for £55.00
- The 10% Society discount can be applied to this bottle (at each shop’s discretion)
- This is not a Society exclusive release.
Springbank 25yo 46%
The latest edition of the Springbank 25yo has been matured in 60% Sherry casks and 40% Rum casks with around 1200 bottles in total.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Initially parma violets and rhubarb. Barbecued meats and sugar cane molasses follow alongside tropical fruits and oloroso sherry notes.
Palate: Maturity and complexity at its best. A perfect balance of sherry and rum casks married in harmony. As it breathes; cured meat notes with a presence of tropical fruits and muscat wine.
Finish: Oh, yes, it’s definitely a true Springbank with coastal and earthy/musty dunnage warehouse notes, with sugary molasses in the finish.
This bottling will also be available from Friday 15th February – please note that the release date in various markets and countries is likely to vary. For details on when the new Springbank 25yo is available near you please consult your preferred Springbank retailer or visit the “Where to Buy” section of our website to find a Springbank stockist.
- The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling this bottle for £370.00
- There will be no Society discount for this release
- This is not a Society exclusive release.
As if this isn’t enough, we also look forward to bringing you the next edition of Springbank 21yo in March and Longrow 18yo and Hazelburn Sherrywood 14yo in April! More details will follow closer to the time.
And for those of you that follow Kilkerran please also look out for something special at the end of March as we grow the range.
Sales Team Event Schedule
Over the next few months, our Sales Team will be travelling to events throughout the UK, Europe and the world.
Check out the schedule below to find out where you can meet our team over the next few months. Details of these tours and tastings can be found on the Springbank website (or they will be added once relevant details are confirmed).
February
13th-15th: Denmark Tasting Tour – Mitch is on tour in Denmark. The tour will take him to Skanderborg, Herning and Ebeltoft.
14th-16th: Cinderella Cruise – Ronan represents Springbank on the Cinderella Cruise later this month and he is looking forward to meeting Springbank fans at the world’s largest floating whisky fair.
16th-17th: The Vault Biennale – Ranald makes a trip to Mumbai, India.
18th-22nd: France Tasting Tour – Grant is going on tour in France. We don’t often send Grant beyond British shores so this will be a rare chance to meet Grant on mainland Europe as he travels on this joint Springbank and Kilkerran tour. And you can try some wonderful Campbeltown whisky, too.
21st: Tasting at Geraldo’s – A trip to the lovely seaside town of Largs for David sees him make a stop at Geraldo’s for a Springbank and Kilkerran tasting.
22nd: Tasting at Robbie’s Drams – David’s time in Ayrshire contines, this time he pays a visit to Robbie’s Drams Whisky Merchants in Ayr for a Springbank and Kilkerran tasting.
27th: Tasting at The Balmoral – Mitch will be in Scotland’s capital for a tasting at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. Please contact the venue for details.
28th: Tasting at The Good Spirits Co. – David is in Glasgow for a Kilkerran tasting at The Good Spirits Co. Join Dave there to try a range of drams from our sister distillery.
March
2nd: Whisky Birmingham – Grant will be in Birmingham on the first Saturday of March for the city’s flagship whisky festival.
8th: Tasting at Dunnottar Wines & Spirits – Grant leads a tasting at Dunnottar Wines & Spirits on Friday 8th with the chance to taste a range of Kilkerran and Springbank drams.
9th: Fife Whisky Festival – Grant and Ronan will be at The Corn Exchange in Cuper, representing Springbank and Kilkerran at the Fife Whisky Festival.
9th: Whisky & Friends – Mitch will be in Poland for Whisky & Friends in Warsaw.
12th-14th: Netherlands Tasting Tour – Ronan is going on a Kilkerran tour of The Netherlands. With masterclassed in Houten, Bergen Op Zoom and Gendt.
16th: Newcastle Whisky Lounge – Mid-March sees Grant pop across the border to Tyneside, representing Kilkerran at the Newcastle Whisky Festival.
18th-28th: USA Tasting Tour – The focus is on Kilkerran for David as he heads to Boston, New York and Chicago for a USA tasting tour culminating at the World of Whiskies show at Binny’s, Chicago on Thursday 28th March.
19th-21st: Italy Tasting Tour – Ranald tours northern Italy for Kilkerran.
22nd-23rd: Midlands Whisky Festival – Springbank and Kilkerran will be on show in Stourbridge as Grant and Ronan share drams with guests at the Midlands Whisky Festival.
25th-30th: Belgium Tasting Tour – Kilkerran is going on tour in Belgium as Ronan travels the country, leading tastings for our sister distillery. Details TBC.
28th-30th: Whiskyschiff Luzern – Mitch is joined in Luzern by Springbank and Kilkerran Director of Production Findlay Ross.
29th: In-store pouring at Green Welly Stop – Grant will be in Tyndrum, Perthshire for an in-store pouring of Kilkerran where guests will get a chance to taste the new Kilkerran release
29th: In-store pouring at Valhalla’s Goat – Donald Brown is in Glasgow for an in-store pouring of Kilkerran where guests will get a chance to taste the new Kilkerran release.
29th: Tasting at TB Watson – Ranald is in Dumfries for a tasting at TB Watson.
29th: Woodwinters – Melanie will be in Bridge of Allan for an in-store pouring of Kilkerran where guests will get a chance to taste the new Kilkerran release.
April
4th: Tasting in St Andrews University – Mitch will be leading a tasting with the St Andrews University Whisky Society. Details TBC.
5th: In-store pouring in Luvians – Spending more time in St Andrews, Mitch will be doing an in-store pouring on Friday 5th April in Luvians.
6th: Alhambra Whisky Festival – Following his time in St Andrews, Mitch will be making the short trip east to Stirling for the Alhambra Festival for Kilkerran Single Malt.
13th: Bristol Whisky Lounge – Grant is in Bristol City Hall for their whisky festival representing our sister company, Kilkerran Single Malt. See you there!
20th: In-store pouring at Oban Fine Wines – Grant will be pouring Kilkerran drams in Oban Whisky and Fine Wines. If you want to sample whisky from Mitchell’s Glengyle distillery in Campbeltown, this could be the perfect chance.
20th: In-store pouring at The Whisky Exchange – Ronan is in Covent Garden in London for a Kilkerran themed in-store pouring.
27th-28th: Limburg Whisky Fair – A member of the Sales Team will be representing Springbank and Kilkerran at this year’s Limburg Whisky Fair.
Lastly, another reminder that tickets for Campbeltown Malts Festival events taking place on Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th May 2019 go on sale next week on Wednesday 13th February at 2pm (UK time) on Eventbrite.
We will be in touch again soon.
Slainte,
The Springbank Team
To join the Springbank Society please contact them at society@springbank.scot
