Springbank 15 Year

Springbank Whisky Tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 17 April 2024, Whisky #2 This tasting was from a 2023 batch, the bottle code being 6/2/23 23/43. Nose: Oloroso sherry, stewed fruit compote, raisins, dark cherries, orange liqueur and a mild but expansive peat smoke. A whiff of gunpowder that becomes a little too obvious over time. Palate: Oily, creamy, rich and leathery from the first drops. The brine from freshly shucked oysters, sweet malt extract, apricot jam, medium sherry, dark chocolate, touches of curry spices and good oak (but there is no tannic intrusion). In the later palate there is a distinct smoky note and this becomes more apparent with each sip. The texture never retreats, coating the mouth and persisting into the aftertaste. Finish: Medium/Long. Relaxed and soothing with sweet malt and earth lingering into the mildly smoky aftertaste. Springbank 15 year old is similar in many ways to the 10 year expression but with greater fortified wine influence, more dark fruit and more sophisticated smoke. This is 100% sherry cask matured (probably in a combination of 1st and 2nd fill) and it has a polish and refinement that for me represents the point of maturity where Springbank really shines. The only issue I had with this 2023 batch was some sulphur on the nose that becomes intrusive over time. I did not notice this on the excellent 2022 batch so I’m rating this one a percentage point lower. The price is, of course, now completely out of control. In Australia it has almost tripled over the last six years. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars) ---------------------------------------------- Springbank Tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 15 February 2023. Whisky #3. Tasting of a bottle from batch 14/04/22. Nose: An immediate aroma of sherry, with dried fruits, toasted walnuts and violets in the background. Warm, rich and deeply floral tones with evolving malt and treacle. A dash of water and some time to rest brings forward a soft tarry, maritime and mineral facet that is quintessentially Springbank. Palate: Warm, blanketing and creamy in the arrival, this textural quality persists through into the aftertaste. Dates, plums and that almost apricot flavour you get from the finest grade of semi-dried white Greek figs. As it develops the palate gains peaty notes and a deep earthy note that is reminiscent of damp forest-floor humus and farmyards (not that I’ve ever eaten either!). Finish: Medium. Semi-sweet and earthy with a tiny touch of lemon zest. A very good example of Springbank 15. It's different in profile to last year’s expressions - each has features that are good and, well, less-good, but the overall level of quality is the same. This was a stand-out among the core-range whiskies on the night. It’s delicious neat and very good with water, which develops a distinct tarry quality on the nose and brings out more peat smoke on the palate. Water does, however, also introduce a slightly drying sour note on the palate and emphasizes a slight citrus bitterness on the finish so it is up to individual taste which is the best way to take it. I preferred it with a dash of water (which is generally my preference) but the person sitting next to me much preferred it neat. Horses for courses. … but the cost! This was initially available (for about 5 minutes earlier this year when the allocations landed) at the recommended retail price of AUD$230, but it is now selling retail from one or two local outlets for AUD$540 or more. Utter insanity. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars) ---------------------------------------------- [Previous review as posted on May 28, 2022] Tasted at The Oak Barrel Springbank & Kilkerran evening, May 28 2022. Whisky #2 Tasting of a late 2021 release (sorry, did not get the lot number). Nose: Floral (sandalwood and lemongrass), sherry, grapes, brown sugar, earth, apple skins, balsamic vinegar, coffee. The nose is less forceful than previous batches but it is still very good and well balanced with a full, satisfying roundness and just a breeze of peat smoke. Palate: Vegetable oil, sherry, malt, lemon, Brussels sprouts, marmalade. The development brings in more vegetal and cereal notes with porridge, brine, ash and wet stones. Iodine (just a hint) chalk and bitter grapefruit grilled with honey. Towards the finish the angular notes tend to merge into a generalized malty profile. The texture is good – oily, creamy and velvety. A dash of water makes it almost erotic. Finish: Medium. The palate diminishes quickly into a slightly metallic and flinty aftertaste. The only whisky of the night that I thought truly did justice to the potential of this great distillery. Commanding at first nosing and forceful on the initial taste, it did, however, tend to lose presence on subsequent tastes. There was a touch of sulphur via an asparagus-like flavor but it was too subtle to be intrusive, and anyway it's typical of Springbank's distillate profile. A very good whisky, but like everything I tasted tonight I thought it was unreasonably pushing the boundaries of affordability, and even if this had been available to buy I would not have spent the requisite $200+ to obtain a bottle. Oh, maybe ... I don't know. Springbank has become very expensive and we enthusiasts are at least partly to blame. Looking on the bright side there are many other whiskies at this price point that are better, and many more that are just as good and way cheaper, so while expressions like this might be hard to find and expensive right now, we are still spoiled for choice with contemporary whisky. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars) [AUD$225 per Bottle in 2022] ---------------------------------------------- [Original review on Distiller, September 17, 2017.] Scotland, September 2017. Whisky #5, distillery tasting. I've been meaning to review this for ages but it has been a while since I last had a bottle, so sitting with a dram of it in Cadenhead's tasting room in Campbeltown seems the ideal time. The 15 is aged entirely in sherry casks (many types) instead of a combination of bourbon and sherry as is the case with the 10 year old. At heart it is very like the 10 year old but with a more dark-fruity and complex character. There is also more coconut, toasted cereal, caramel and leather. The sherry influence permeates the distillate rather than covering it like a winey blanket. It's the same elegant act displayed in Old Pulteney 21 and Glenfarclas 15. I think of the Springbank 10 and 15 year olds as being different facets of the same new-make spirit rather than an older and younger brother. The vegetal, fruity, mineral and briny notes are all still there in the 15, but there is also a more relaxed and autumnal feel. Buy a bottle and enjoy one of the great experiences in whisky. "Excellent" : 88/100 (4.5 stars) [AUD$145.0 per Bottle in 2017] ----------------------------------------------

It’s officially 2022 and I’ve decided to “Spring”bank into it with a series of samples. Continuing on my Springbank series, I have the 15-year that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a light effervescent mixture of citrus, sherry and wheat field then dark chocolate covered raisins and sugar cookies followed by a blown out but still smoking match that fades to the background of fruits of salted sun baked orange, charred lemon and prunes that transitions to candied ginger, light leather and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium yet creamy mouthfeel starting with a light effervescent mixture of citrus, sherry and wheat field then salted dark chocolate with a caramel center and cinnamon raisin oatmeal cookies followed by a moderate and drying spice that slowly fades to the background of fruits of orange creamsicle, candied lemon peel and red grapefruit that transitions to candied ginger, vintage leather and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with light ash, ocean brine, butterscotch pudding, dark chocolate raisins, shortbread cookies, red grapefruit, vintage leather and polished oak. Coming off of the cask strength 12s, this is a very easy sipper that has an incredibly creamy mouthfeel. The nose greets you with a mellow Springbank funk with balanced sherry notes before the light smoke comes through then some sun soaked charred fruits and moderate oak that carries over to the taste with what feels like a whipped cream mouthfeel, slightly bitter yet sweet citrus and a moderate spice with polished oak that finishes creamy with light ash, slightly bitter fruit, butterscotch and well-aged oak. This is another incredible whisky by Springbank that is very well balanced and I’d prefer it over batch 17 or 21 of the 12 year cask strengths, but it’d be hard to beat the batch 19 that had an even creamier mouthfeel with bolder flavors. At around $150 around me, I think this is a worthy buy for the unique creaminess with an incredible balance of those wonderful funky Springbank and sherry notes that have aged gracefully to create a very unique and flavorful whisky.

04/01/21 printed on the bottle. Other numbers are rubbed off, but could be a 21/01. I don't know enough about the batches to know what that means, but someone reading this probably does. I assume at least it means bottled Jan 4, 2021. N: Apple, citrus, heather, flowers, dried herbs. Mild peatiness that takes the form of cooked fruit and vegetables. Might be a dash of baking spice in it too. P: Sweet fruit up front with more of the apple and citrus from the nose. Gives way to a spicy caramel and vanilla bomb that just seems to swirl on the tongue over and over. Bitter herbs and dried flowers lead into the finish which then brings more caramel and vanilla with sweetened cinnamon spice, lingering cooked fruit, and a salty ocean vibe. Long after most whiskies are done, the finish here continues to change: citrus, floral notes, and finally, an almost hop-like bitter quality that lays on top of a woodsy, spicy, and somehow just plain elegant cinnamon candy note. This stuff is terrible. Please, if you see this on a shelf, especially in Los Angeles County - and let's say any neighboring county too - leave a comment below letting me know where and I will make sure it is disposed of properly. Elsewhere in the country, we may have people who can help - see below. _______ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord: https://discord.gg/VSmCvzAQfH. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired, post a comment and I will provide a new one.)

Nose - leather, floral Taste - leather, cigarish, bitter, floral Og rating - 3.5 Revisting this in Oct 12, 2024 Found a wonderful top shelf at a public house in Galena. Decided to review after a long time again as my palate has matured and I hope to appreciate it more. Nose - a very fruit forward nose. Syrupy, raisinish. I also get leather and wet log. Funky. Tropical fruits like, pineapples, green apples, banana. Has a very rich feel! Luxurious. Sherry cask influence is very evident. Tongue - spicy! Get a decent peat hit! Medicinal as well! Different than the 10 year old! Has an interesting quality, where it starts off coming accross as sweet but the more it lingers the sweetness drops off! Coats the mouth well. Typical campbeltown funk! A dirty pour! Finish is medium long! The sherry cask finish adds tons of richness, and syrupy goodness! Presence of peat ticks a numebr if boxes for me! I definitely appreciate the intricacies of this whisky way more now!! New rating - 4.25

This bottle was a Christmas gift to myself. It was the last one on the shelf and I haven't seen another in my travels. Now I will try and attempt to review the Springbank Funk on the nose that in previous tasting has been hard to describe. N: Fig, bright red apples, raspberry jam, sweet pipe tobacco smoke, the sherry influence is strong. A drop of water gave it a fruit roll up note P: Easy going, Sweet mints, like a note I would say comes from like a chewing gum. A tap of smoke but not really noticable with everything else going on. This is where the funk is getting me and is hard to describe now. A drop of water gave me strawberries F:Long and coating fresh like a peppermint patty. Lets you think in-between sips. Perfect conversation whisky. At the end of the finish there is a satisfying sweetness. Finish is the same with a drop of water. I love having this with good friends. It has never gone unappreciated.

After my indoctrination with the 10 yr this was the next logical step. 100% sherry finished yes please. Nose has flattened out any spikes from its younger sibling. Its overripe red grape and prune, roasted yellow bell pepper with plenty of seaside fire smoke put out with a bucket of ocean water. SB funk is alive and kicking along with malt and a kiss of maple. Palate delivers deep waves of salted dark fruit malt, smoldering innertube, heavy charred barrel and pine sap with a bit of menthol. Finishes with the cooling funky malt fading to smoky tannins and lingering grilled fruits/peppers. This is wonderful scotch with layers of flavors and plenty of depth. It dims the brightness of the 10 yr to a more mature experience. If you can find this at a reasonable price and Cascode has sworn you in go for it......93/100.......That said for the money I think the 10 yr is almost on level ground