Springbank 18 year old 2026 edition Single Campbeltown Malt Whisky 46%

The wind bites off Kilbrannan Sound, and the street outside the distillery in Campbeltown still smells of dried barley and sea salt. The Mitchell family has run Springbank from here without interruption since 1828 – through depression, war and nearly a century of decline for what was once Scotland's busiest whisky town. Eighteen years is the age at which Springbank's core range truly opens up.

Expert Description

Springbank 18 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of bourbon, sherry and rum casks and bottled at 46%. The bottle is part of Springbank's annual core releases, and this 2026 edition follows the same line the distillery has kept since the first 18 Year Old came out in 2009.

Springbank is the only Scottish distillery that still floor-malts all of its own barley, and the entire process, from malting to bottling, happens on the same site in Campbeltown. The barley is dried over a light peat fire, giving Springbank its gently smoky signature. The spirit is distilled 2.5 times in directly fired copper stills fitted with rummagers, an old-fashioned technique the distillery has kept while most of the industry moved on.

Eighteen years spent across bourbon, sherry and rum casks give the whisky its layered character: the bourbon casks bring sweetness and vanilla, the sherry casks bring dried fruit and spice, and the rum casks add an extra layer of sweetness and depth on top. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and marzipan meet candied orange peel and a touch of leather, with a hint of dried fruit and a faint, salty breath of the sea underneath.

Palate

Spiced with nutmeg and dark chocolate, carried by fig and blackberry. A gently salted undertone keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

Long and warm, with a sweep of ash and caramelised sugar that closes sweet, salty and lightly smoky.

Specifications

Name: Springbank 18 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Springbank
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, Sherry and Rum Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Distilled 2.5 times in directly fired pot stills with rummagers
EAN no.: 0610854187002

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Spicy · Fruity · Maritime · Lightly Peated

Did You Know?

Springbank 18 Year Old was named "Best Campbeltown Malt" at the World Whiskies Awards in 2010 – a category the distillery has more or less owned ever since.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Springbank 18 Year Old

What makes Springbank 18 Year Old special?

It comes from the only Scottish distillery that still floor-malts all of its own barley and handles every step, from malting to bottling, on one site. The combination of bourbon, sherry and rum casks gives it a layered flavour that's hard to find elsewhere in Campbeltown.

Is Springbank 18 Year Old worth it?

Yes, if you're after craftsmanship over volume. Springbank produces in limited quantities, keeps to old-fashioned methods like floor malting and 2.5-times distillation, and the 18 Year Old has repeatedly won awards for exactly this Campbeltown style.

How should Springbank 18 Year Old be served?

Best at room temperature in a whisky glass with a narrow opening, so the aromas concentrate. A drop of water can help open up the nose, but skip the ice – it shuts the flavour down.

Why does Springbank distil its whisky 2.5 times?

Only part of the spirit from the second distillation is sent through a third run. The method gives Springbank a weight and complexity that sits between the light Hazelburn and the heavier Longrow.

What's the difference between Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn?

All three are made at the same distillery but differ in peat level and distillation. Springbank is lightly peated and distilled 2.5 times, Longrow is heavily peated and double distilled, while Hazelburn is unpeated and triple distilled.

How long does an opened bottle of Springbank 18 Year Old keep?

Stood upright with the cork or cap tightly sealed, ideally somewhere dark and cool, it keeps well for a year or two, though the aromas soften gradually the more air the bottle has taken on.