92 points,"All the classic Springbank elements merge nicely here."- Whisky Advocate This may be a classic Springbank, but the 15 Year Old is as rare as hen's teeth. Take your time over this dram as it takes time to emerge from its tightly wound chrysalis. But when it does, it's as bright and beautiful as a butterfly. There's a combo of coconut, almond, dried tropical fruits, rolled oats and golden syrup that calls to mind good quality granola. Then the sea arrives with crashing waves of brine and pipe-smoking fisherman dressed in weather-beaten leather and carefully mending the tarred ropes of their netting. Suddenly a boat sails up as if from the days of the Empire, carrying English breakfast tea, spices from Asia, Sherry from Spain and oak cases of exotic tropical fruits. And finally it's Christmas - all marzipan, figs and mulling spices. It's a whirlwind journey. Springbank is one of those glorious distilleries that sits quietly on the peripheries of the scene but occupies a special place in the heart of true whisky connoisseurs, a bit like Clynelish and Rosebank. Once home to some thirty distilleries, Campbeltown was a major player in the world of whisky. However, most of them have long since gone out of business, and now only around four remain. The most famous is Springbank, who also produce the peated Longrow and the triple-distilled Hazelburn. Established in 1828, it's one of the few Scottish distilleries that has remained in the hands of the founding family, J.&A. Mitchell&Co. Ltd. They also run two of the other distilleries in the region: Glengyle and Kilkerran. So really, without that first illicit still set up by Archibald Mitchell and the spirit kept alive by his ancestors, there would probably be no whisky from Campbeltown and Scotch would be all the poorer for it.£13.57 per 100.00ml