Springbank 15 Year Rum Wood

I like this one. This is a sophisticated (more clean) Springbank "funk" nose, with fresh cream and slightly unripe bananas sitting on a haystack - swimming around the old olfactory. The 51% ABV is the probably maxing out the potential of this dram; punching heavily toward a "on fire" finish...A nice drop of water transforms this into a scotch with more of a mass market appeal; a mango-ey, sweetness unfolds and hides some of the more herbal qualities found in the bottle's natural state. I'm glad the rum cask doesn't overtake this scotch, and only adds a slight tropical element into a very malt forward expression with good oils for tastebud grip. Ultimately, something understatedly unique (even within the unique Springbank world), which will be fun to unwrap as the bottle goes down. The knock is the price and a more hollow intensity on the tastes compared with the nose and finish. But once again, very cool. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Telex - COVID 19 edition...Hope everyone is safe, and staying inside... I pray for everyone's businesses and employees as well... The nose was full of mint, spearmint, basil, and pine needles. On the back end were citrus fruit like lemons and oranges, along with some tropical notes like pineapple and coconut. For the palate, we get caramel, dark chocolate, buttered popcorn, white pepper, all supported by a foundation of white ashy peat smoke. The finish is long, filled with espresso, mocha, toffee, and honey tones. Wow! What an overall complex, yet approachable scotch. The only "complaint" that I can see one can put on this bottle is the feeling of it being quite disjointed. When you pick a 5 course meal, you do want to there to be a flow, in which here the nose and palate are separate. With that said though, the quality of each piece here is exquisite. The cost of the try is a bit much, but remember the true artisan experience from Springbank you are experiencing. The theme of this dram should also be a little haphazard in tone, but be a quality work. "Cirkus" by King Crimson, it is.

Nose - sharp, acidic, light oak tannin, some citrus and some more sweet notes. I get almost a sugar cane and springbank combo here. There's not a lot of depth or complexity to the nose. It is pleasant but not inviting. Taste - Upfront I get those bannanas and pineapples and just that kinda rum citrus fruit note. Of course we get some salt, light peat, and a bit of a funky malt. There isn't a lot on the opening here either. But then the whisky transitions and I get notes of espresso (like a kona blend), some deep well aged and well made oak, light white chocolate, perhaps even a cinnamon roll icing. The overall experience is from sweet and light to complex and dark oak and espresso notes. All within that classic springbank funk and earthy expression. This is HIGHLY complex whisky and insanely nuanced. I'm sadly only going with a 3.5 as I can't get past how simple and frankly poor the nose is. This is a 2.0 nose on a 4.0 whisky. So we'll split the difference.

On the nose there is a mix of sweet and smoky aroma that reminds me of toasted coconut and smores. On the palate, the toasted coconut transitions to a sweeter honeysuckle. From there, the flavor smoothly slides into a deeper, richer, caramelized banana custard, with flairs of smoke and oak.

Floral, grassy, followed by honey and dark fruit aroma. The taste is dynamic due to its dryness and bitterness while at the same time you can still enjoy the classic 12 years old Springbank with its dark fruit and honeyed flavor.

Vanilla frosting on the nose, light peat, vanilla, orange spice & nutmeg. Lingering aftertaste of rum & allspice.