SPRINGBANK News
We have just taken delivery of the new Springbank Calvados in the shop today, itʼs a 12y/o
which has been 6 years in a bourbon cask and 6 years in a Calvados cask, strength
52.7% and costs £58.
Tasting Note:
Colour - Golden syrup
Nose - The influence of the Calvados casks is immediately apparent, with notes of
greenapples, citrus fruits and sweet toffee showing themselves in the beginning. Vanilla
essence, pears and some gentle spice come later.
Palate - A very lively dram at cask strength. Black pepper and rhubarb give way to
demerara sugar, green grapes, a touch of cinnamon and a little bit of home-made fudge.
This is an oily whisky for sure.
Finish - Orange marmalade, gooseberries and a pleasant, dry, peatiness leave a lasting
impression
The staff up at the distillery have been working very hard both inside and outside and the
place is looking very smart and tidy. There have certainly not been any “idle hands” over
the past few months. Our Distillery Manager, Gavin, is very neat and tidy and this must
be rubbing off on everyone else, I think.
SPRINGBANK WHISKY SCHOOL
The whisky school will run next year from week beginning 6th May until week beginning
8th July, 10 weeks, arriving here on the Sunday and leaving on the Friday. Places are
starting to fill up but we still have plenty to fill. There are only six places each week so that
we can ensure that everyone has a chance to work in all aspects of the Distillery and
spend as much time as possible with the Distillery staff. The staff are all very friendly and
enjoy the Whisky School, being able to pass on their skills to people who are obviously so
interested in what they do. Frank is busy making up new information for next yearʼs pupils
and we are hoping to present them in booklet form which will be a reminder of your time
spent with us here in Campbeltown.
Last year we published a piece on facebook weekly with a photograph of that weekʼs
pupils (all still smiling at the end of the week) and comments from the “Headmaster” Frank
McHardy. There were no “detentions” or “punishments” handed out to anyone throughout
the ten week period and everyone seemed to get on really well, during and after working
hours. We even had one pupil dressed up in a kilt - you know who you are!!!!
So, if you would like to join us next year please let me know by emailing
whiskyschool@springbankwhisky.com and I will send you some information and a
registration form.
SPRINGBANK OPEN DAY 2013
Next yearʼs Open Day is starting to be discussed, plans being made, etc. The Open Day
will be on Thursday 23rd May and as we get nearer the time all will be revealed as to what
we will be doing. There will of course be Single Casks and Masterclasses and tours, but
we will have to wait and see what else is in store for you.
Watch this space ...............................
SPRINGBANK SALES TEAM
The Sales Team have been kept very busy these past few months, Sales Manager Ranald
Watson has been jetting around the globe spreading the Springbank word, Melanie
Stanger has been travelling round the UK and Europe, attending shows and Tastings and
our newest member John McCallum has also been out and about, finding his feet, so to
speak. When we get to the Open Day next year, John will be an “old hand” by then and
will no doubt be involved in some of the tastings. Melanie was involved in the Open Day
this year so she has already “cut her teeth”.
LONGROW CV
We now have the new Longrow which replaces the Longrow CV, the packaging is rather
eye catching I think.
The tasting note for the Longrow is as follows:
Colour: Light amber with slight olive highlights.
Nose: Very creamy, vanilla custard. The smoke develops gradually, like a slow burning log fire,
never overpowering butalways reassuring. Our guest taster was reminded of marshmallows toasted
on a campfire - crisp on the outside and sticky sweet in the middle!
Palate: Incredibly well balanced - rich and creamy with a slight medicinal hint. The smoke is
always present, washing over the palate in waves, like the soft billows of smoke from the kiln.
Finish: The gentle smoke lingers and lingers leaving you yearning for more!
The Cadenhead shop now also has Longrow 5cl £5 and Hazelburn 12y/o 5cl £5 in stock, as well as
the Springbank 10y/o and 15y/o 5cl. These have proved to be very popular since being introduced
recently.
St Andrew’s Night
The Tasting Room at Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop, Campbeltown are hosting a St Andrew’s Night on
Saturday 1st December. There will be a 3 coarse dinner and a whisky tasting. Tickets available
from Cadenhead Whisky Shop, Campbeltown at a cost of £25 per person. Time, 7.00 pm for 7.30
pm. If it is as successful as the Hallowe’en night we held recently it promises to be good.
Hallowe’en Night
We held a Hallowe’en night on 27th October in the Tasting Room and although fancy dress was not
compulsory everyone joined in and came along dressed in various costumes, most of which were
home made. We had Dorothy and her friends from the Wizard of Oz, a giant pumpkin, Edward
Scissor Hands (the winner of the competition), a girly clown and lots more. The staff were
dressed as zombies with Donald as the zombie chef, Grant as a very scary zombie and Mairi, Julie,
Leslie and myself as zombie waitresses.
We enjoyed a lovely warming winter dinner cooked by Donald and accompanied by cocktails rather
than a whisky tasting. The evening, of course, included some games - “dooking” for apples -
surprised there wasn’t any mess for this one, and throwing corks into a pumpkin to win a prize.
The Tasting Room was suitably dressed for the occasion with spiders webs, skulls, bones and
gravestones, and spooky music playing all night (not too loudly).
This was our first Hallowe’en “function” and hopefully not our last.
SLÁINTE!!!!
Janet
