Springbank 1978 Black Label Cork stopper 46% 1978

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Serge Valentin (89)

There were different 1978s, such as the ‘house and tree label’, but this is well the classic ‘black label’ (some poets rather coined it ‘yellow thistle label’).

Colour: straw.

Nose: it’s a rather austere one, pretty acrid, mineral, and grassy, without any sherriness – not to mention raisins or dried fruits. I’m finding quite a lot of shoe polish and old metal (second-hand spare parts, perhaps), which gives this Springbank a rather Longrowy feeling. Some fresh walnuts as well, as well as a little plasticine.

Mouth: more sweetness, rather around grapefruits, with an acidic side and always a lot of plasticine, paraffin, stone, bone dry riesling, and then a saltiness and plenty of grass. Austere, getting ashy and even saltier.

Finish: quite long, with some zests, salt, chalk, and more paraffin. A rather smoky aftertaste.

Comments: they weren’t filling pricey great casks at that time, but the end result is that the spirit remained kind of naked and ‘natural’. Which I enjoy!