The Springbank distillery is one of the most famous and successful distilleries in Scotland, releasing high-age statement whiskies and exclusive bottlings to an audience around the world. However, in the 1990s and early 2000s, this was certainly not the case.
Following a period of closure between 1979 and 1987, Springbank needed capital to continue production and stage a comeback that would establish the distillery as one to watch in the industry.
Therefore, Springbank established a cask ownership program, offering the public the chance to purchase a Springbank cask (or casks) at a low price. The program allowed Springbank to raise instant cash to continue operations following the turbulence of the 1980s Whisky Loch.
Some of the casks that were purchased were owned by so-called syndicates; groups of people who pooled resources to purchase a cask (or several casks) that were left to mature in Springbanks warehouses. Years or even decades later, these casks would be bottled by Springbank as private cask bottlings for members of the syndicates.
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Following the release of the limited edition Springbank SYN 20 Collection in 2021, we are pleased to be offering another rare selection of Springbank private cask bottlings: the Springbank Starkickers.
The Springbank Starkickers
The Springbank Starkickers are limited private cask bottlings of Springbank distilled in the late 1990s and early 2000s and bottled between 2017 and 2023.
Whilst not much is known about the syndicate that owned the Starkicker casks, it is safe to assume that there was a wide range of casks bottled. There are around 230 results for the Starkickers at auction from 2018-2024 with vintages ranging from 1996-2000.
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On the label of each Starkicker is the flag of Scotland and the Royal Banner of Scotland (sometimes referred to as the Scottish Rampant Lion). The labels also feature lines from poems by Robert Burns, Scotland’s national bard, and a Scottish cultural icon, as well as a scotch whisky lover.
Buy Springbank Starkickers
Available to purchase on The Whiskey Wash Shop, we have three of the fabled Springbank Starkickers:
- Springbank Starkicker 2000 20 Year Old, matured in fresh sherry and port hogsheads, bottled 2020, 43.4% ABV
- Springbank Starkicker 1998 25 Year Old, matured in a fresh sherry hogshead, bottled 2023, 50.1% ABV
- Springbank Starkicker 1996 25 Year Old, matured in a fresh sherry butt, bottled 2022, 54.6% ABV
The Legacy of Springbank Syndicates
Springbank syndicates and private cask purchases not only offered fans of the distillery a unique opportunity, they also helped Springbank generate the revenue that allowed the distillery to become the industry giant that it is today.
When we receive 1990s bottles of Springbank from clients who wish to sell, quite often you will find a leaflet inside the box displaying a sign-up form for cask ownership. With casks on sale for as little as £400, this marketing and lead generation strategy worked wonders, and the public purchased Springbank casks in droves.
Fast-forward to 2024, and we have seen some interesting and rare Springbank bottlings come to auction thanks to the cask syndicates. In addition to this, Springbank used its generated capital wisely and is now considered one of the best distilleries in the industry, putting emphasis on its traditional methods and family-run business.
As such, those who were lucky enough to purchase a Springbank cask over 20 years ago are certainly reaping the rewards today.
Shop Springbank
As well as the exciting Springbank Starkickers, we have a wide range of Springbank whiskies available on our shop, such as a legendary 1966 Local Barley and a 1972 La Reserve.
Browse the collection here.
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