The great news here is that this is 100% ex-bourbon. Granted, many ex-sherry Springers have been utterly splendid, but some have been a little more, say uncertain (s*****r). Let's see… Colour: straw/white wine. Nose: this is what a few fine folks dislike in Springbank, whilst we do love it, soot and metal polish. A lot of moss too, paraffin, old tools and greases, perhaps a few wood shavings from a carpenter's, stale seawater, certainly a little soap and lady's hand cream, some mustard and horseradish, wasabi, petroly riesling… No complains whatsoever this far. With water: paraffin and turpentine up, with clearly some saponification that will last for at least one minute. No problems, this is fun. Mouth (neat): exceptional salt and concentrated lime juice, a few drops of aguardiente to make a wee mojito, some amaro (Montenegro and such), some greasy and sooty matters, some pepper, radish… With water: gets rootier, I'm getting quite some gentian and more bitter drinks, Underberg-style. More salt too. Finish: very long, with this wee austerity that we always love in young natural Springbank. Lemon, perhaps a shot of salty dog? Comments: in the same class as the dazzling – and yet cheaper - 10 yo. This session starts well.
BOW (90)
Unlike previous editions, this version was released without the original box.
Springbank has decided to do this to contribute to saving the environment and to take their responsibility as a family owned company.
Malt Fascination (89)
Sniff:
Quite crisp with some dried peaches and black pepper. Some clove too, with a hint of vanilla. Slightly funky with a note of hessian. Rather clean for a Springbank. With some time and air it gets more dirty and oily.
Sip:
The palate arrives rather gently and does build up a bit but not as much as I expected. Massively funky with hints of hessian and moldy basements. Old bread, grains and dried fruits like peaches and some raisins.
Swallow:
The finish is a bit more clean. Some blackberries and peaches. Hessian, old wood and some dirt. A rather big finish.
It’s a very typical Springbank bottling with lots of funky notes combined with a maritime edge and a whiff of smoke. This being a very typical Springbank also means it’s very typically awesome. Highly recommended stuff.
