Twelve Springbank, vertically and in two parts


March 5, 2025

Twelve Springbank, vertically and in two parts, part two

Yesterday, we were stuck on that incredible 1994 from North Star, which had propelled us to planet Mars (take that, E.M.). Today, we're going to try leaving the galaxy (now you're really exaggerating, S.).

Springbank 29 yo 1993/2022 (46.4%, Animal Spirits, 1st Anniversary, hogshead, cask #95, 207 bottles)

We’re back in Asia, with much joy. Colour: straw. Nose: this starts badly—I mean, we’re already too high up. But of course, that was to be expected. Once again, this isn’t a complicated nose; it’s almost basic (chalk, sourdough, green banana, pine resin, humus, roots, tar, seaweed, camphor… actually, no, it’s fairly complex). In fact, it’s reminiscent of a great yet pretty ‘new-school’ white wine. Think Meursault power, in short. Mouth: impressive strength for just 46%, with beautiful peppers, earthy tones, bananas, and apples, all with a simple yet razor-sharp precision. Very refined, sculpted almost like flint. Finish: fairly long, mostly peppery. Comments: excellent, with a nose that slightly outshines the palate, which held back just a little. But we remain at an exceptionally high level—sheer class.
SGP:562 - 90 points.

Springbank 30 yo 1994/2024 (48.6%, Distilia with Robert Bauer, The Sins, Envy, cask #94, 112 bottles)

The seven deadly sins still rule the world, not just at Mar-a-Lago. Then again, have they even heard of Dante Alighieri over there? Colour: gold. Nose: here we have balance—almost perfect balance, in fact, to the point where you wonder if anything else even needs adding. Seaweed and honey, smoked figs, mentholated tobacco… you see, it’s simply a great whisky, perhaps with fewer of Springbank’s usual markers, rather one that could almost be a great older-style ‘M’. I swear. Or a mix of both malts. Mouth: forget all that—the palate is pure Campbeltown. Powerful, peppery, and salty, almost a bit brutal, yet with beautiful acidity, green apples, and green pepper… Very different from the nose indeed. Finish: the slightly mentholated salinity returns, along with mixed peppers and lime. Strong honey in the aftertaste, still mingling with quite a bit of pepper. Comments: this one doesn’t back down—it’s still a fighter. A very entertaining and charming contrast between the rather diplomatic nose and the rougher palate. Naturally, we love it, yes we do, believe me, we love it very bigly.
SGP:462 - 92 points.

Springbank 30 yo 1994/2024 (48.8%, WhiskyLand, Decadent Drinks, Chapter Seven, refill sherry hogshead, 247 bottles)

Springbank 30 yo 1994/2024 (48.8%, WhiskyLand, Decadent Drinks, Chapter Seven, refill sherry hogshead, 247 bottles)
Well then, after the deadly sins, a chapter seven. Our friends in independent bottling are certainly keeping us on our toes—utterly unrepentant! They won’t be taking this to heaven (right, right). Colour: deep gold. Nose: almost identical to the previous one— again you might mistake it for an old-school Macallan from their golden era, with subtle smokiness, roasted nuts, all kinds of dried fruits, those little Asian sauces we never remember the names of but always love, and a good 25 kilos of dried dates, with just a drop of mint essence. Absolutely stunning. Mouth: the same pattern as before—the palate is far more peppery, intense, demanding, taut, yet, of course, utterly magnificent. Grapefruit peel and green apples. Finish: long, dominated by green peppers with just a hint of honey. Comments: we strongly suspect a sister cask of the previous one. What a nose!
SGP:462 - 91 points.

Springbank 30 yo 1994/2024 (43.1%, Royal Mile Whiskies exclusive, refill hogshead, cask #27, 214 bottles)

RMW had already stunned us with a Springbank 1993/2023 (WF 93), so let’s see how this more recent bottle compares. Colour: chardonnay. Nose: all these noses are superlative—absolute beauties. Here, we have meadow and mountain honeys, dried fruits, and blossoms in full springtime nectar flow. How fitting, isn’t it? Then comes beeswax, leading us into more secondary and tertiary realms (whatever those might be), while the faintest wisps of smoke complete the masterpiece. Mouth: here we go—this time, we’re fully in the realm of honeyed citrus, with a touch of pepper, though less than in the previous ones. The very mineral chardonnay-from-limestone-like backbone supports it all beautifully. You could almost serve this alongside a poularde demi-deuil or some quenelles de brochet sauce Nantua. Hungry yet? That was intentional. Finish: curiously long given the ABV, with citrus making a strong return. The pepper is still there, lurking in the background. Comments: a sublime bottle—don’t be afraid of the slightly lower strength.
SGP:562 - 92 points.

Springbank 1992/2024 (46.3%, Douglas Laing, Xtra Old Particular, Black Series, refill hogshead, cask #DL18281, 176 bottles)

Colour: light gold. Nose: the house style when there’s no sherry. Direct, slightly fermentary, with raw wool, modelling clay, damp chalk, and slate… You get the idea—it’s rather mineral, simple, almost youthful, yet to me, of an almost Caravaggesque beauty. Nothing is missing, and nothing is superfluous. Mouth: citrus and pepper, plus seawater and apple juice. That’s it—it’s little, and it’s a lot. A new kind of old Springbank—abstract, simple, magnificent. Isn’t complexity overrated in whisky? (Of course not—pure b*ll*cks.) Finish: not the longest, but always ultra-precise, with liquorice, mint, lemon, ashes, and pepper. Comments: it’s great fun tasting these vintages, which we first tried when they were ten years old, back when their ‘flaws’ hadn’t yet become their strengths. Who said time isn’t a major ingredient in whisky—aside from accountants?
SGP:462 - 92 points.

Well, we said 12, but we're only at 11. So, let's quickly dig into the box of 'older' Springbanks we haven't tasted yet...

Springbank 1993/2015 (54.7%, OB, Private Bottling, Whiskyfreunde Essenheim, fresh sherry butt, cask #412, 144 bottles)

Germany, and the Germanic countries in general, have quite a few very active whisky clubs, some going back a long time. Essenheim, near Frankfurt, is a fine example. Colour: gold. Nose: I love it when there are hints of garlic in a malt, and that’s the case here. Then come broths, soups, vegetable potages—this feels like a very nourishing Springbank. “Five a day,” they say—well, we’re there, easily. With water: truffle, cabbage, leek, and spent matches, though all kept in check. Mouth (neat): lovely cask, rather deviant, but then, Springbank loves to deviate. Here, it’s all about truffle, dark chocolate, and metal polish, then leeks and black pepper. Not at all classic, and extremely dry—but we love it. Very loco Springer. With water: escargot soup with garlic, parsley, and butter. I swear. Finish: fairly long, same profile. Notes of Brussels sprouts. Comments: yes, it’s sulphured—there were quite a few sulphured Springbanks and Longrows from these years—but here, it didn’t really clash, it even blended in. More or less. A very fine bottle in any case.
SGP:362 - 86 points.

(Merci to KC and to Tom)

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