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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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June 17, 2026 |
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WF's Little Duos, today
old bottlings of Springbank
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We obviously cannot leave this miserable blog entirely devoid of Springbank for too long. The latest expressions seem to be rather under the radar, at least to me, but thank goodness we still have a vast collection of older releases that we have yet to taste. Let’s just say that, given the choice between trying an original Testarossa and the latest electric contraption that looks like an iron designed by a short-sighted, colour-blind intern, we do not hesitate for very long… That’s right, the Luce. But even today, Springbank is no Luce, granted. At all. Love them. |
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Springbank 15 yo (46%, OB, black label, early 1990s) 
It has to be said that batches of the 15-year-old have always been extraordinarily variable. Between the pure, streamlined versions and others saturated with rather unruly sherry, there were worlds. Our archives range from WF 78 to WF 91, just to give you an idea... With Springbank, colour has always mattered greatly, given that the use of caramel was invariably homeopathic, if not entirely absent. Broadly speaking, with younger bottlings such as this one, the paler batches tend to be preferable, except perhaps for the 12 100 proof versions... Well yes, it is all rather complicated, so let us forget about that. Colour: chardonnay. Already a piece of good news. Nose: fresh butter and wax, morning air, paraffin, modelling clay and wakame salad. There we are... Mouth: limestone, white pepper, focaccia, chalk and green apple, plus a small oyster. Hints of mineral sulphur too, not to be confused with the sulphur of wine casks, imparted by matches and candles. Finish: fairly long, becoming saltier, more nervous, fermentary and mineral, with slightly under-ripe apples followed by green pepper. Comments: we have made this a quick one, but frankly it is very good indeed, even if it may not quite be Broadway class. Broadway in Campbeltown?
SGP:462 - 87 points. |
Now on to the legendary vintages… |
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Springbank 1966/1987 (59.9%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #27.5) 
Just imagine, only the fifth Springbank ever released by the SMWS. Needless to say, this is not the sort of bottle one finds under a horse’s hoof, as we say... Colour: gold. Nose: absolutely loaded with metal polish, shoe polish and even tractor engine oil (tractor engine oil?) before moving on to barley porridge, farmhouse cider and a great loaf of freshly baked bread. Unlike most official 1966s, including the celebrated Local Barleys, this is not a Springbank shaped by sherry, quite the opposite in fact. That makes it rather moving, truth be told... With water: the magic of Springbank unfolds without the slightest hesitation. Chalk, lemon, fermenting notes, various waxes, carbolineum, petrichor... Mouth (neat): astonishing freshness, as though it had been distilled the day before yesterday and bottled this morning (I know, watch bottle shock). Magnificent chalk, ale, this morning’s butter croissant (excuse my Frenchness), bitters, artichoke, aubergine, waxes and, above all, lemons, which always seem remarkably at home in Campbeltown. And naturally, all those peppers... With water: simply superb. Finish: incredibly lively, razor-sharp, lemony and possessed of absolute class. Comments: here you are practically standing alongside the distillery workers in the still house, listening to Time is on my Side or Keep on Running on the radio while paying attention to the new make. Not much maturation influence perhaps, but a truly seminal distillate, bolstered by a magnificent texture into the bargain.
SGP:463 - 94 points. |
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