Another trio from Springbank


March 17, 2026

Another trio from Springbank

You know, it had been weeks since we last tasted any Springbank! A short verticale 2001 – 1999 – 1993, does that suit you?

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Springbank 23 yo 2001/2024 (53.9, Archives, Shells from the Bay of Caracas, 1st fill sherry butt, 66 bottles)

Springbank 23 yo 2001/2024 (53.9%, Archives, Shells from the Bay of Caracas, 1st fill sherry butt, 66 bottles)

But where have the fish of Samoa gone? We had eventually grown rather fond of them… But you will say that the Venezuelans could certainly do with some support these days, even their shellfish… Colour: dark amber. Nose: absolutely massive sulphur, yet very, very strangely it has become rather pleasant, in any case extremely spectacular. One almost feels as though we had put our head inside an old factory chimney while sniffing improbable medicinal embrocations at the same time, before ending on a kiln-like side that rather inevitably makes us think of Longrow. Also cooked Brussels sprouts and artichokes… With water: the water softens it and allows dried and candied fruits to emerge. Hurrah. Mouth (neat): still as bizarre, still as entertaining. Enormous amounts of pepper, ashes, toothpaste, digestive herbal concoctions based on fumitory and all manner of increasingly peculiar roots… With water: once again the water smooths the whole and lets the fruits appear, but also plenty of roots and earthy notes here. Finish: very long, with rather dominant pepper and liquorice wood. Campari, gin and orange in the aftertaste. Comments: but how on earth to score this!? We shall adopt the method ‘do we like it or not’. We love it, doctor, is that serious?
SGP:462 - 90 points.

Springbank 25 yo 1999/2024 (54,2%, Lucky Choice & Bar Code Melbourne, refill hogshead, cask #LC369)

By a very great house, we have been able to realise that these past months. Colour: full amber. Nose: much cleaner and fruitier, you might say it could hardly have been as sulphury. Astonishingly massive amounts of raw carrots, which we absolutely adore, plus a little white radish, before figs and raisins begin to take control. Magnificent nose, though one must enjoy raw carrots. With water: camphor begins to appear. Mouth (neat): on the palate we find again a little of the sharp and peppery side of the previous one, with the fairly marked and almost salty structure typical of Springbank. Quite a lot of tobacco, leather and a motor oil side, with clay and slate. Typical. No carrots this time, I am afraid. With water: perfect now, rather combative, very typically Springbank. That sulphury, waxy, almost slightly chemical side here and there. Finish: the same. Comments: on the palate it resembles the 2001 quite a lot, on the nose not at all. The magic of Springbank…
SGP:462 - 90 points.

Springbank 31 yo 1993/2024 (44.4%, Archives, Shells from the Bay of Caracas, bourbon hogshead, 50 bottles)

As there are, or rather were, only fifty bottles, we shall attempt to break the world record for the fastest tasting note. Colour: full gold. Nose: the carrots return, along with roots, beeswax, stewed apples and quince jelly (apple quince and pear quince, 50/50). Mouth: full Springbankness. Waxes, oils, tar, carbon, candied oranges and lemons, eucalyptus, mint, and a drop of seawater. Finish: long, on lemon balm, peppermint, earth and brine. Comments: wow!
SGP:562 - 91 points.

Check the index of all Springbank we've tasted