Name: Springbank Single Malt – 10 Year Old
Color: Brown
Nose: Peat, smoke, white fruit, earthy
Taste: Cereal malt, oily wood, peat, slight sweetness
Established in 1828 Springbank is located in Campbelltown, Scotland, which is on the Kintyre Peninsula the West Coast (Lowlands). Campbelltown was once the whisky capital of the world with over 30 active distilleries. Today, only three distilleries remain; Springbank, Glen Scotia, and Glengyle. When it comes to making whisky, Springbank does everything in house from start to finish. They malt (floor malted), distill, mature, and bottle on site which is rare these days due to operational costs.
What is “Floor Malted?”
Grains of barley are what is used make malt whisky and are basically small packets of starch. The barley is steeped in water over two days to start germination to eventfully release sugar to be converted to alcohol. After steeping the barley is called green malt and is laid over a heated floor (up 2 feet deep) to stop the growth. Kilns below heat the green malt through the floor and workers use wooden shovels to turn it regularly. This is labor intensive and most distilleries use automated drums to save time and money. After the floor malting is complete the distiller proceeds to the milling, mashing, fermentation, and finally the distillation process.
Long story short, floor malting is a lot of work.
Many feel that this traditional step in the process makes for better whisky. That can be true, but many distilleries do not floor malt and they make excellent whiskies. Some distilleries embrace the older methods and some only use modern technology. I am not saying floor malting is better but in my opinion if a distillery is going the extra mile you are going to get a better product. That extra mile may be floor malting or using technology, it all varies.
Priced around $65 and well worth the money for a 10 year old. If you are not familiar with Springbank and you like Scotch, I suggest you get familiar with it tonight over a dram or two.
If you like it, drink it! – Chris
If you like it, drink it!
