Douglas Laing Old & Rare Platinum Selection. Single refill hogshead distilled July 1991 & bottled November 2011. This is the first time we have seen Springbank bottled under this label. Tasting notes sound wonderful! 158 numbered bottles. Hazelburn (Springbank) Springbank Distillery is the oldest, independent & family owned malt whisky distillery in Scotland having been founded in 1828 in Campbeltown at the foot of the Mull of Kintyre on the west coast of Scotl&. Springbank produces three different types of malt whisky including Hazelburn which is non-peated & triple distilled & was first produced in 1997 & first released at the age of 8 years in 2005. The barley is spread across traditional malting floors at Springbank where it germinates & is then dried by hot air on the perforated floor of the malt kiln. The name Hazelburn is in memory of Hazelburn Distillery which was once one of the largest & now one of Campbeltown’s many lost distilleries & operated in the centre of the town from 1825 until 1925. The nose opens with a spicy, sea-weedy character & runs to ripe sugared banana plus oranges & a vanilla/cedar wood style. The palate is initially light & subtle – dry (even desiccating) & spicy – then it develops to an attractive smoky & briny quality. Spicy characteristics continue on the long sweet/woody finish which carries a gun powder tea style - then runs to more wood, dark sea-weed, & soft leather.