On the 21st of November 2023, a rare cask of Springbank will be sold online with a reserve price of £100,000. The auction will be a part of the 12th Auction Your Cask (AYC) event to take place since the company was formed in 2020. Auction Your Cask is the UK’s first live auction website to sell casks online and is owned by the parent company Cask Trade.
As Scotland’s oldest independent, family-owned distillery, Springbank remains one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world emanating from the smallest region in Scotland—Campbeltown. Today, Campbeltown is home to just three distilleries—Springbank, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia—however, this wasn’t always the case. At the start of the 19th century, the region was once home to 30 distilleries and referred to by many as ‘the whisky capital of the world’. Despite the economic struggles of the early 20th century that took with it so many of the surrounding distilleries in that area, Springbank, founded in 1928, survived and is currently under the ownership of J & A Mitchell & Company.
Spirits master and Keeper of the Quaich, Colin Hampden-White, has tasted the 26 Year Old Springbank and describes it as absolutely delicious.
“A very good example of Springbank with all the salinity one would expect with rich fruits, some floral notes and the ever expressive saline, sea breeze Springbank is so well known for. Complex and balanced, this is an unctuous whisky with Campbeltown character,” says Colin who adds: “On the nose there were notes of rich honey, honeysuckle and fresh vanilla pods, apricot and some cooked red apple. On the palate, the spirit is clean and complex with both fresh orchard fruit and caramelised pears. Clear honey and cherry blossom give lighter notes and all spice sits in the background giving great balance.”
Colin concludes: “The spice and smoke persist all the way through the finish and are joined by waves of honey and pastry. Touches of chocolate and golden syrup come and go as do some summer fruits. The end is still juicy, and smoky, oaky and rich.”
The upcoming event follows from Auction Your Cask’s most successful sale to date in September where 284 people registered to bid, 183 bids were placed, 22 cask samples were sent out and 13 lots were sold.
If you have a cask you would like to submit to the auction complete this form before 10th November 2023.
To sign up to bid in the live auction, register here
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