
December 27, 2016

Springbank, another wee verticale

No OB this time. Well, not quite…

Springbank 14 yo 2002/2016 (47.7%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon barrel, 168 bottles)

Well, the good folks at Cadenhead do not need to go very far to go handpick one or several casks of Springbank, do they. Colour: white wine. Nose: instantaneous. Ink, coal smoke, sour cream, engine oil, artichokes, tarry ropes, old leather jacket, that very particular sulphury side that’s so nice (in this context), and Nescafé. Not too sure about that last bit. Mouth: it’s quite amazing how Springbank became quite Longrowy after the year 2000. Should we go talk to the gentleman that used to be responsible with cleaning the pipes? First a very lemony and mineral peat, then many many ashes, then oysters and citron liqueur. More and more seawater – may we talk to the gentleman that used to be responsible with cleaning the pipes once more? Bah, love this. Finish: long, superbly balanced between chalk, ashes, and lemon juice. Almost forgot to mention ink. And salt. Comments: isn’t Springbank simply Scotland’s greatest distillate these days? Yes, even taking vodka into account? ;-) SGP:453 - 92 points.

Springbank 1999/2016 (50.3%, Archives, sherry hogshead, cask #269, 287 bottles)

Our Dutch friends at Archives’ already had some wonderful Springbank in the past, so… Colour: pale gold. Nose: I was about to copy-and-paste my notes for the Cad when I started to notice more sherry, leather, and perhaps ‘medicinal rubber’ in this one. So it’s perhaps a little less bright, and a little more, well, dry-sherried. All very nice anyway. With water: mushrooms and struck matches. Which works. Mouth (neat): same feeling of leathery, slightly rubbery things in the arrival, before more bitter oranges and pepper appear. A little thicker, for sure. With water: it just adores water. Oranges, chalk, pepper, truffles, waxes… The rubber’s gone now. Finish: long, on some kind of smoky and mineral marmalade. Comments: I like them even better when they’re unsherried, but once again, it’s a great one. SGP:452 - 89 points.

Springbank 21 yo (54.1%, The Whisky Show, bourbon)

Colour: pale gold. Nose: it’s a rather lighter Springbank, and in a way you could say it’s less ‘Longrowy’, so less smoky and engine-y than the younger ones. I rather get autumn leaves, old books, saltpetre, graphite… With water: a little brinier, with more sourness, perhaps. Smoky yoghurt, seaweed, capers, lovage... Mouth (neat): ah no, this is perfect. Totally blade-y, and yet with a fatness behind, extremely lemony, and chalky to the max. Also green apples, and grains of salt. Reminds of potash from nearby mines, which we used to lick when I was a kid. With water: more of all that. It’s a katana. Finish: very long, on candied lemons dipped into pepper liqueur. Or something like that. Comments: fine nose, greatest palate. First lost a few points, then won them all back. SGP:562 - 90 points.

Springbank 21 yo 1995/2016 (54.8%, Douglas Laing, Xtra Old Particular, refill sherry butt, cask # DL11366, 131 bottles)

Colour: gold. Nose: we’re very close to the ‘Show’ bottling, obviously, but this one’s a little meatier, and in a way, more ‘Mortlachy’. Hardboiled eggs, leather, matches, roasted chestnuts… It’s also earthier, with some damp black earth, while some tangerines are coming out. A little mud. With water: that old tweed jacket after a long walk in Scotland. You’re right, a walk under the rain. Mouth (neat): no, it’s really really good. Peppered bitter oranges with bits of leather and capsicum. Caraway. With water: gets a little drier, and that’s probably the sherry. Some oranges singing in the background. Finish: long, on bitter herbal liqueurs and Seville oranges. Comments: extremely high quality yet again. It’s just that, in my opinion, modern Springbank does not obligatorily need sherry. SGP:462 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Springbank I've tasted so far