Famed for producing an old style, idiosyncratic, characterful whisky, expectations of a cask from Springbank are always high and fortunately this example does not disappoint. A gloriously peaty nose refracts into engine oil, camphor, barley sugars, cola cubes, lime zest and smoky wild garlic. Incredible. The palate has a pleasingly thick texture and delivers an encyclopaedia of flavour; some boot polish and beeswax, to peat bog and leather, all with lashings of austere fruit. A coastal tang echoes on the finish as one’s jaw drops at the sheer strength of character in this dram. All hail Springbank.

Springbank is one of the last surviving distilleries in Campbeltown, on the Mull of Kintyre. Once a hub of distilling, the town’s heritage is remembered in the old song “Campbeltown Loch”.