Springbank 15 Years Rum Wood 51% is a limited Campbeltown single malt fully matured in ex-rum casks. Distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2019 at 51% cask strength, it is released without chill filtration or added colour, offering a bold, oily and characterful take on the classic Springbank style, enriched by rum sweetness and tropical fruit.
Producer – Springbank Distillery
Springbank is one of Scotland’s most traditional distilleries and the beating heart of Campbeltown. Still family-owned by J&A Mitchell, it is famous for doing almost everything in-house: floor-malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, maturation and bottling.
The house style is oily, gently peated, coastal and often slightly rustic and earthy – the hallmark Campbeltown profile.
In the Rum Wood release, a fruity Springbank spirit has spent 15 full years in fresh rum casks, creating a distinctly tropical and sweet twist on the distillery character.
Nose
The nose is sweet, tropical and inviting. Coconut, pineapple and ripe banana lead the way, joined by lemon sponge cake, vanilla, light honey and icing sugar. Underneath, you find gentle peat smoke, a faint diesel/farmyard note, chalk, sea breeze and a subtle salty minerality. With time, cane sugar, dried fruits and toasted marshmallows emerge.
Palate
The palate is thick, oily and powerful, with the cask strength clearly present yet well integrated.
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Sweet and fruity arrival: tropical fruit juice, grilled pineapple, banana, yellow apples and peaches, topped with vanilla and sugary notes.
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Rum and oak: cane sugar, caramel, toffee, light syrup, crème brûlée, toasted nuts and spicy oak.
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Springbank core: mild peat smoke, ash, coastal salt, chalk, a touch of rubber/workshop and that unmistakable funky earthiness.
A few drops of water open the whisky up beautifully, bringing more red and yellow fruit, softer chocolate tones, enhanced citrus and a more clearly defined nuttiness, while the coastal smoke remains in the background.
Finish
The finish is medium to long, warm and layered. Tropical fruit and light rum sweetness linger with vanilla, honeyed sponge, roasted nuts and soft peat smoke. Toward the end, white pepper, oak spice, salt and a honeycomb-like note appear, adding a drier, slightly spicy edge that balances the sweetness.
Serving & character
Springbank 15 Rum Wood is best enjoyed neat in a tulip-shaped glass after a short rest. Adding a splash of water is recommended to release the full range of tropical fruit, rum and subtle smoky tones.
This is ideal for drinkers who enjoy:
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classic, coastal Springbank with gentle peat
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combined with a pronounced rum-cask influence, extra sweetness and plenty of tropical character
