Whisky lovers spend £¼ million in under an hour
WHISKY collectors and drinkers spent £250,000 in under an hour at Springbank’s 10th Malts Festival.
Early on Thursday morning, in a scene reminiscent of a new year sale, the queue for Springbank’s Malt Festival open day special releases snaked towards Longrow.
There were 534 bottles of Springbank 21-year-old, 46 per cent, sherry hogshead and Madeira hogshead married in a first fill Madeira but at £250 each; 1096 bottles of Longrow 13-year-old, 58.7 per cent, refill port casks at £60 each and 1076 bottles of Hazelburn 10-year-old 59.6 per cent, refill Marsala hogsheads.
Maximum
Customers were limited to a maximum of two bottles of each offer making a perfect case value of £740 for six bottles.
Many nations were represented by people in the queue including Germany, the UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
Andy Large, from Lochgilphead, said: ‘It
is a great event and so good for the area.’
A Parisian, who did not want to be identified and has come to six malts festivals said: ‘A week in Campbeltown is worth two anywhere else because the people are so friendly.’
Favourites
Cocktail bar tender Guy Rushworth, from Yorks The Whisky Lounge, said: ‘One of my favourites is Springbank’s local barley. I did about 100 tastings last year.
‘What I love about the whisky are the small details and the characters of people who love the drink.’
A new addition this year was a small stall selling a very special selection of limited edition bottles – those given to staff at Christmas.
Ifferdale Lamb, Argyll Bakeries, Muneroy and Kintyre Smokehouse kept the crowds fed and many customers browsed stalls, including a Courier Centre stand offering Kintyre souvenirs. One couple from Hong Kong, Gary Tsang and Kate Ho,were pleased with a staff Christmas bottle which they though ‘a snip’ at £350.