The newest LB and another Springbank


April 12, 2024

Quickly, the newest LB and another Springbank

Because we don't want to lose our proverbial (they say) Springbank-fan-ness.

(Extract from the Eaglesome of Campbeltown price list, spring 1998. 'WB' means 'wooden box'. Who wants some Local Barley 1966? BTW to account for inflation alone, in 2024, prices from 1998 need to be multiplied by approximately 1.75 in Europe.)

Springbank 24 yo 1996/2020 (49,1%, Sansibar, Koi Series, for Japan, sherry then madeira finish, 280 bottles)

Hope it was not a fishy bottling (ooh, bravo S., you've outdone yourself once more!) Colour: red dark amber. Nose: lemon peel, verbena, menthol, wasabi, walnut wine, mustard, pinesap, sour wines of many kinds, tiny whiffs of cat croquettes (no worries, those are the good ones – say WF's mousers) and some kind of Longrowness in the background. A rather intriguing nose, to say the least. Mouth: really rich, sweeter, much more honeyed, with a bit of 's' but nothing really unbearable, some eucalyptus, green walnuts, very sweet walnut liqueur, nocino, fir honey… Finish: rather long, pretty multi-dimensional, some moderate 's' being one of those dimensions. Gunpowder and umami sauce in the aftertaste. Comments: I believe it's a pretty crazy one, rather full of 'attractive flaws'.
SGP:662 - 87 points.

Springbank 13 yo 2010/2023 'Local Barley' (54.1%, OB, 8,400 bottles)

Forgot to try this baby earlier this year, it's more than time before they have the next batch, is it not. This was Belgravia barley from Glencraigs Farm malted on the distillery's floor, according to the back label. 60% Bourbon, 40% Sherry. Bottled dec. 2023. It's true that we love this series, there I said it. Colour: gold. Nose: indeed, a genuine member of our axis of wax (as we maintain it with Angus). Something hot ala Ben Nevis, some pure wax ala Clynelish, a coastal side ala Highland Park, and say a mustardy/meaty hint ala Benromach. Carbon paper, brake fluid, old paints, pine needles… With water: superb, orange peels, engine oils, church candles... Mouth (neat): so good. Lemon zests, verbena, gentian, paraffin, caraway oil… So good, so good… And once again some Longrowness. Did they not decide to vat everything together? With water: perfect waxes and mineral oils. Finish: long, a bit peppery, with citrus at the very end. Comments: I'll be accused of being a fanboy again, but it's true that the people are so friendly and so keen to keep their word that one just cannot resist them. Sublime Local Barley.
SGP:562 - 91 points.

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