Springbank – Local Barley 16 Years 1999 (70cl, 54.3%)

This is a 16-year-old Springbank from Campbeltown, bottled for the Local Barley series. It was distilled in September 1999 and bottled in January 2016 at 54.3% ABV in a 70cl bottle, without chill-filtration or added colour. The whisky was made entirely from Belgravia barley grown on the Kintyre peninsula, a short distance from the distillery. It matured 80% in ex-bourbon casks and 20% in sherry casks, and 9,000 bottles were released. The nose opens sweet and salty, moving to shortbread, vanilla, pear drops and raisins. The palate is sweet and round with a very subtle peat note, buttery tablet, soft fruit and mineral touches. The finish gains a little more peat, alongside light sweets and lemon peel.