2 x Springbank Blackadder Miniatures

Springbank is one of the giants of the Scotch whisky world, an independently-owned distillery dedicated to preserving the traditional methods of distillation. For a long time Springbank was flying the flag for Campbeltown whisky almost alone but the distillery’s fortunes have improved since the 1990s, and in 2000 Springbank expanded their operations with the purchase and subsequent reconstruction of the Glengyle distillery, home of Kilkerran.

The Springbank distillery produces three distinct single malt whiskies, with the regular lightly-peated Springbank malt complemented by the heavily-peated Longrow and the unpeated, triple-distilled Hazelburn. Of these secondary malts, Longrow has a longer history and more passionate fanbase, with the 1973/74 vintages in particular attracting eye-catching prices at auction. The standard Springbank spirit remains one of Scotland’s greatest whiskies, and auction prices for old bottles continue to rise.

Blackadder International is an independent whisky bottler founded in 1995 by John Lamond and Robin Tucek, authors of the seminal whisky book The Malt Whisky File, originally published in 1987. Lamond stepped down in 2001 and the company is now run by Tucek and his children Hannah and Michael. Blackadder’s Raw Cask range famously includes harmless cask sediment added to each bottle - a practice that raises eyebrows and attracts fans in equal measure.

Mild controversies aside, Blackadder International deserve a lot of credit for helping popularise cask strength whisky in the 1990s and for eschewing artificial colouring and chill filtration long before it was fashionable to do so. Blackadder’s hugely impressive back catalogue now stands at well over 1500 whiskies and includes sensational drams from distilleries including Longmorn, Springbank and Highland Park - a testament to the success of the company’s old school approach.