
August 13, 2026

WF's Little Duos: today some mandatory Springbank

I know we’re repeating ourselves a little, but there are names that we simply have to taste from time to time, as they’re such an important part of the landscape. Like Springbank, of course… We’ll actually start with the older one, as it’s the one that was bottled at the lower strength of the two.

Springbank 15 yo (46%, OB, sherry, 2025)

I believe this is the most recent batch of the 15-year-old. We had really enjoyed the 2024 (WF 88), although for me it had been eclipsed by the 10-year-old, which I still adore just as much (WF 91). By the way, we’ll have to revisit the 10-year-old, once a year is the bare minimum, isn’t it? Colour: gold. Nose: you can smell the shoe polish from twenty metres away. All right, two metres. Also soot, old walnuts, old tobacco (grandfather’s old pipe), then coffee. It then becomes rather more ‘Springbank’, with fresh cement, engine oil, lemon and menthol. Lovely two-stage nose. Mouth: superb, dirty just as much as it should be, very peppery and mustardy, with some rather flamboyant bitters if that’s your thing, although the whole does become just a wee bit stifling as a result. Bitter almonds, bitter oranges. Finish: long and simply carrying on with that very lovely bitterness. It’s rather like amontillado with a very pronounced flor character. Comments: as the 10-year-old wasn’t around to steal its thunder, we can happily add one point. You just have to enjoy your bitters…
SGP:462 - 89 points.

Springbank 12 yo 'Cask Strength' (56.6%, OB, batch #29, 2026)

Pure ex-bourbon this time, so it should be sharper and, perhaps, more petroleum-driven. Like a certain orange entity, you might add. Colour: straw. Nose: indeed, we’re closer to the 10 here, with more oomph of course, damp earth, barley, old tweed, engine oil, but also more custard than expected, even a few jellybeans, now that’s unexpected. With water: plaster, grist, plasticine, seaweed, new rubber… It’s definitely Springbank, just in case you had any doubts. Mouth (neat): the bitterness is back, less ‘amontillado’ this time and more towards green pepper. Grilled aubergines. You can tell it needs water… With water: in come the oranges and lemons, with a lively tension that’s also rather fat, quite oily. What a texture! Finish: long and very Springbankesque. Wax, pepper, green walnut, salt and a wee oyster. Comments: perhaps a less complex 12-year-old CS than some others, but with a clearer line, and that we love. Perfect salinity.
SGP:462 - 90 points.

Check the index of all Springbank we've tasted