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Dwelling
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| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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December 7, 2021
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A brand new wee bag of Springbank together with my, cough, 17,000th whisky
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We have mentioned we might strive Springbank, the whisky from that different planet that’s Campbeltown, no less than as soon as a month. After all Hazelburn counts.
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| The nice 3-cylinder engine, 2004 -> |
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Springbank 12 yo ‘Cask Energy’ (55.4%, OB, batch #22, 2021) 
That is 50% sherry and 50% bourbon. I might have most popular 50% bourbon and 50% refill hogshead, however there, not my enterprise… Color: mild gold. Nostril: most likely not the dirtiest younger Springbank ever, however I do discover it very porridge-y, filled with sourdough, soot, concrete, seashore pebbles and with these typical notes of ‘new electronics’. Tends to develop into fairly medicinal too (bandages), nevertheless it hasn’t fairly bought these very mineral notes that had been to be present in earlier batches. No raisins this far, hurray. With water: uncooked wool and moist canine. We’re sorry, canine! Damp chalk too. Mouth (neat): pure lime juice with some salt and a few blood oranges, then drops of orange liqueur. Maybe a bit of easy however what it does it does good. With water: extra pepper, greens, and bitter fruits, cherries, fermenting raisins… End: slightly lengthy, a tad rounder, with some muscovado sugar. Raisins certainly within the aftertaste. Feedback: excellent, as anticipated. The issue is that I had a shot of the ten solely yesterday and located it slightly vastly superior. Bur let’s not exaggerate, this 12 remains to be a slightly mighty dram.
SGP:452 – 84 factors. |
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Springbank 12 yo 1997/2010 (57.1%, OB, non-public, Ian’s Artisan Dram, 1st fill sherry butt, cask #315, 233 bottles) 
Color: gold. Nostril: soot and Demerara sugar, marrow soup and quenelles, lamb, then burning pinecones and slightly a whole lot of steel polish, ‘good’ sulphur, previous copper cash, previous kettle, previous range… Oh so very previous Springbank. With water: rotting fruits, recreation, hoisin sauce, coal… All very good! Mouth (neat): love these soiled previous sherried Springbanks. Consuming steel polish straight from the tube, bitter oranges, sucking pipe tobacco (you shouldn’t try this, it is poisonous), extra marrow, this sense of coal-smoked raisins… With water: umami sauce, glutamate, chestnut purée, rancio, sweeter gravy… One might pour this over hamburgers, actually. End: lengthy, sooty and but sweeter, with extra raisins? Smoked raisins, after all. Cough syrup within the aftertaste. Feedback: a terrific bottle that begins to profit from OBE, when you ask me. 91 on ten years’ time.
SGP:463 – 90 factors. |
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Springbank 25 yo (46%, OB, 1400 bottles, 2021)
Some rum wooden in there. Oh hell, why not. Color: mild amber. Nostril: it’s as when you would really feel the rum, and as if it had been ex-Jamaica, actually. In that case, we’re all for these notes of olives, peppermint, tiger balm, liquorice wooden, wooden earth (fern), moist Cuban cigars, cured ham, old-style embrocations and balms… Oh, and that previous pack of untipped Camels, circa 1975. Humorous how reminiscence works, is it not. Mouth: grand whisky, extraordinarily punchy at 46% vol., very advanced, with a great quantity of espresso and chocolate, then rum certainly, salted caramel, umami, bouillons, savoury mixes, Maggi, drop of chilli sauce (maybe Harissa?), fermentary sauce, peppered oranges… Effectively it’s all a bit of untidy and shambolic, however that is exactly what we take pleasure in in these artistic drops. And there, these massive capers they’ve in Sicilia… And honeydew. End: lengthy, drier, saltier but. Think about somebody would have added salt to a tremendous Assam, or one thing like that… Feedback: shambles that we love. Forgot to say black and inexperienced olives on the palate.
SGP:462 – 91 factors. |
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Springbank 1996/2020 (47.3%, OB, non-public, for Bar Sugar Hill Arnhem, contemporary sherry hogshead, cask #108, 36 bottles)
From a personal cask that is been shared. They share many issues within the Netherlands, particularly gouda, lakrits, spliffs, and whisky casks. Color: amber. Nostril: precisely sherried Springbank appropriately, if I could. Great crude cocoa and black teas, all types of mints and liquorices, meats and marrows, cured ham, Swiss cheese, previous rancio, artichoke liqueur, dates stuffed with marzipan, stouts, soy sauce… It is all fairly mad and simply fantastic. Mouth: enormous, nearly aggressive at simply 47%, peppery, Campari-y (apologies), occurring with a whole lot of marmalade, chillies, liquorices, a bit of tarragon, aniseed, pastis, tar liqueur… A really mad mixologist might have created this utilizing many elderly liqueurs and cordials. And mead. Loopy whisky. End: lengthy, stunningly natural and shock-full of salted liquorice, with a bit of venison sauce within the aftertaste. Cranberries. Feedback: no surprise some buddies in Holland would have chosen this, het is erg lekker!
SGP:562 – 91 factors. |
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1996… Nice classic at many locations!
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Now when you please, let’s strive my private 17,000th whisky right here on little WF! Our 16,000th final yr had been the primary Dornoch, however this time it’ll be a Springbank, as some buddies on FB had slightly well guessed. No, 17K that is not that a lot, I wanted nearly 20 years to get there {and professional} sommeliers would are likely to strive no less than ten instances these quantities.
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Springbank 17 yo 1996/2014 (53.3%, OB for Taiwan, contemporary sherry, cask #582, 534 bottles)
A few of these bottles actually flew beneath our radars right here in Europe. Color: mild amber. Nostril: completely on Demerara sugar and rhum agricole of excellent age, plus just a few drops of Hampden or Worthy Park. Effectively, that is what occurred first, earlier than extra savoury, Springbanky, faintly sulphury notes began to come back out, with some plasticine, a bit of diesel oil, pencil eraser, Maggi… It is all very pretty certainly. With water: creosote, saltpetre, ashes, samphires, Worcester sauce… and stuff like that. Mouth (neat): how nice is that this? Fab mineral, smoky, salty, tobacco-y, walnutty and chestnutty notes simply all over the place, with these touches of sulphur that work so effectively in Springbank, whereas they might solely additionally work in, say Mortlach and Ben Nevis. See what I imply? With water: salt, cigars, cocoa, acidic espresso, nuts, tar, resins, very previous riesling… End: lengthy, tighter, nearly lemony. Lemongrass, tobacco, brine, smoke, Madeira, mustard sauce… Feedback: wow, this one was proper up my alley. Wait, it is nearly as if they’d added a bit of Longrow to the cask, no?
SGP:473 – 91 factors. |
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We do preserve flying excessive, will we not…
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Springbank 1980/1988 (50%, Duthie for Samaroli, twentieth Anniversary, fino sherry, 540 bottles) 
I’ve by no means written any formal tasting be aware for this one, however I’ve drunk some and I bear in mind it was a bit of controversial. Now’s the time; in any case we’re solely round 33 years late… Color: gold. Nostril: whooh, lovage! All the time cherished lovage. Additionally malt extracts, manzanilla (proper, fino), mustard, inexperienced walnuts, vin jaune, curry, mustard once more, a drop of mezcal, then olives, plasticine, waxes… Boy do I like this gorgeous vertical profile! With water: dry, chalky, sooty. Nosing some dry spice combo, allspice, concrete, plaster… Mouth (neat): smoked lemons, limoncello, pine liqueur, with a sudden drop across the center, fairly surprising. Ah, now I bear in mind… With water: a sweeter aspect, Sylvaner, liquorice allsorts… Not fairly on the identical stage as on the nostril, however no complains, it is a terrific drop. End: typical salty/meaty/lemony combo, it will nearly take off once more. Contact-down whisky. Feedback: beautiful nostril, nice arrival on the palate, extra pedestrian center, very good end… maintain on, I am simply realising that this child was solely 8 when expensive Silvano S. bottled it. Thoughts you, eight years previous.
SGP:462 – 89 factors. |
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Springbank 1972 (51.2%, OB, Large S, for Taiwan, +/-1995)
That is very uncommon, I believe I’ve by no means seen it earlier than, neither have I attempted it ‘knowingly’ (certainly when you’ve good buddies, you by no means fairly bear in mind what’s they’ve poured you round 3:30 a.m… ha!) Color: mild gold. Nostril: goes in direction of beeswax and in that respect, reminds you of many an previous ‘Native Barley’ or ‘West Highland Malt’, or 21/25 by ‘Archibald Mitchell’. Distinctive meady earthiness and previous 1st-cru Sauternes. Wonderful, actually ‘the smells of 1972’ (Clynelish, Springbank Glen Grant and so forth). Stuff of legends. With water: damp earth, camphor, swamp, previous mead, previous furnishings polish… It holds for positive. Mouth (neat): unexpectedly rustic, mentholy, dry, natural… Not precisely what I have been anticipating. Perhaps the cask. With water: roots and earths. Actually good, however it’s as if it wasn’t the identical whisky on the nostril. Beers and meads. End: medium, earthy, with a sense of previous chardonnay that is gone a bit of bit too far. Flabby Chablis, as useless always imbibed American poets would have mentioned. Feedback: the nostril was out-of-this-world.
SGP:551 – 89 factors. |
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Let’s name this a tasting session, when you agree.
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(Many, many, and I imply many thanks, Chang!)
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Bonus. Guess what, Angus determined, on the final minute, to hitch the festivities…
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Angus’s Nook
From our correspondent and
expert taster Angus MacRaild in Scotland |
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| Springbank, when you do not thoughts. |
| Admittedly I have been attempting various excellent whiskies in these weekly tastings currently. I see no cause to cease that streak of delight simply but… |
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Campbeltown 7 yo Blended Malt (57.4%, Watt Whisky, 66 bottles) 
An unique native bottling for native folks – so I am advised. Fairly curious to see how these batches are evolving as they age, assuming not all casks had been bottled at 5yo? Color: straw. Nostril: acquainted! Sheep wool, moist rope, rigging, lanolin, linen material, chalk and aspirin. Pure, clear, younger, feisty and invigorating with a yeasty kick up the arse! With water: white flowers, flints, hessian, solar lotion and olive oil. Mouth: once more that is all on moist wool, lemon juice, chalk, pebbles, cod liver oil, hessian, cooking oils and wee camphor and medical touches. With water: will get impressively oily and fatty in texture with dilution. Many extra cooking and industrial oily vibes. Camphor, lanolin, ointments and a bit of seawater. End: lengthy, salty, oily, extra fatty cooking oil vibes, roasted peanuts out of nowhere and asparagus. Feedback: enjoyable and slightly boisterous whisky that most likely needs to be consumed shoreside in C-town between the hours of two and 5 am.
SGP: 462 – 85 factors.
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Springbank 8 yo (80 proof, OB, Nineteen Sixties) 
I’ve tried this already on these pages (WF92) nonetheless, that was the 43% Sutti import model. Undecided whether or not that is actually an 80 proof model or not, I believe I solely noticed these 60s tall 8 yr olds at 43%? Anyway, for the report… Color: gold. Nostril: extraordinarily focussed on medical vapour rubs akin to tiger balm, additionally medical embrocations, bandages, gauze, iodine and eucalyptus oils. Immensely fatty and filled with many natural extracts, mineral oils, animal fat, suet and mustard oil. Massively charismatic distillate – if maybe barely lopsided in direction of these very exact medical features. Mouth: pin sharp medicines, mineral oils, waxed canvass, seawater, pickling juices, pure tar, salted liquorice and a few fairly heavy umami paste flavours. Very savoury, natural and medicinal. End: lengthy, salty, peaty, oily and with a whole lot of natural bitters, soot and smoked olive oil. Feedback: enormous whisky, and undoubtedly a unique batch from the final bottle I attempted. That is severely medicinal and peaty previous type whisky. In all probability not completely balanced however the sheer power of character is unequivocally mighty.
SGP: 464 – 91 factors.
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Springbank 10 yo 2009/2019 ‘Native Barley’ (56.2%, OB, 9000 bottles)
Composed of 77% bourbon, 20% sherry and three% port casks apparently. Color: pale gold. Nostril: maybe a extra light profile of Springbank. Initially I discover olive oil, mild camphor notes, freshly milled grist, hints of bandages and sheep wool. Over time it begins to evolve some very pretty notes of sea air and grapefruit. Gaining complexity and a few very typical distillery character alongside the best way. With water: turns into fairly pointedly salty, brine and citric with lemons and limes galore. Waxes, mineral salts and seashore pebbles. Mouth: right here we go! Large coastal and seawater notes, extra grapefruit – pink this time – lemon oils, bergamot, lime, waxes, fir wooden resins, mineral oils, ointments and smoked olive oil. Large character whisky. With water: eases into a reasonably classical Springbank mixture of waxes, olive oil, seawater and varied citrus fruits with their rinds intact. Excellent texture and mouthfeel. End: lengthy, peppery, mineral, salty, waxy and with a properly delicate peat smoke thread. Feedback: began quiet, however unfolded fairly shortly into some Grade A contemporary Springbank. The palate is actually very good!
SGP: 463 – 90 factors.
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Springbank 10 yo 2010/2020 ‘Native Barley’ (55.6%, OB, oloroso sherry, 8500 bottles)
Color: deep amber. Nostril: cherries and another assorted crimson fruits strike first, additionally slightly a whole lot of polished and fairly scented hardwoods, resins, black tea and pipe tobacco. Darkish chocolate with sea salt and darkish fruits stewed with spices. impressively clear sherry up to now. With water: centered on jams, wooden spices, darkish fruit cordials, lapsing souchong tea and cheng pi aged orange peels. Mouth: the Springbank actually comes by loud and clear, which is nice information, though I believe the peat and drugs of the distillate perhaps jar barely with the sherry cask. Some extra hardwood resins, jasmine, black tea, tobacco, natural toothpaste and salted liquorice. There’s additionally one thing like peated cola syrup occurring – root beer perhaps extra correct. With water: slightly tarry, peppery, on creosote, ointments, TCP, bergamot and smoked black beers. Smoked paprika, recreation meats, anchovy paste and eucalyptus once more. Highly effective stuff that is most likely not completely balanced however a whole lot of enjoyable. End: lengthy, very natural and medical, medicated toothpaste, mouthwash, bitter blood orange marmalade, hessian, black pepper and extra cured meats. Feedback: nice distillate and excellent ‘fashionable’ sherry casks do not essentially equal terrific whisky, particularly whenever you introduce peat into the combo. Now, I am most likely being a bit nit-picky right here – that is nonetheless a wonderful and really enjoyable whisky. You simply have to love these slightly pointed and syrupy medical vibes.
SGP: 663 – 87 factors.
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Springbank 19 yo 2001/2021 (50.1%, Cadenhead Genuine Assortment, bourbon barrel, 204 bottles)
Color: pale gold. Nostril: smooth medicines, heather smoke, natural infusions, Scotch broth, bandages, moist seashore pebbles, white flowers… these batches are simply completely good I am afraid. A feathery, crystalline peat smoke with chalk, lanolin, lemon rind and seawater. Additionally some crystallised unique fruits, lemon barley water and drops of smoked olive oil. The sort of nostril you possibly can simply spend ages selecting aside intimately. With water: a tad extra floral, just a few extra pollens, barely drier, barely extra crisp and coastal. Some extra citrus rinds and extra delicate issues like smoked teas and fruit syrups. Mouth: excellent smokiness, peatiness, coastal freshness, waxes, minerals, citrons, chalk, menthol tobacco, medical embrocations, salted honey, heather beer, ointments. Completely very good and feels prefer it was captured at an ideal age. With water: completely sooty, waxy, mineral and oily. A splendidly thick however not too assertive peat smoke flavour, white pepper, lanolin, mineral oils, shoe polish and extra waxy lemon rind vibes. End: lengthy, calmly smoky, sooty, resinous, nonetheless filled with coastal freshness, dried flowers and peppery waxy flavours. Feedback: arduous to beat. These vintages at this age are simply excellent. A fantastic cask that is alive from begin to end with distillery character.
SGP: 563 – 91 factors.
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Springbank 28 yo 1992/2021 (50.9%, Milroy’s Of Soho, cask #185, hogshead)
Color: gold. Nostril: there’s one thing slightly humorous and ‘1992ish’ about this one, issues like cheese rind and curds, one thing barely lactic anyway, however that is not supposed negatively. That is nonetheless fairly oily, syrupy candy delicate peat, aromatic waxes, Barbour jacket, wax paper, tea tree oil, wintergreen and natural liqueurs. Feels very concentrated and delicate, with a robust diploma of complexity. With water: will get extra advanced and nonetheless very oily, mechanical oils, cooking oils, camphor, pure tar, steel polish, sooty coal scuttles, cash, peat embers and Scotch broth. Actually quite a bit occurring. Mouth: nice arrival, very oily and fatty. A number of camphor, suet, waxes, fir wooden resins, natural ointments, embrocations, mineral oils, beeswax polish and oily rags. An impression of sweetened olive oil, tiny briny inflections and dried seaweed. Wonderful and fantastically balanced. With water: completely drying and a notch extra saline now, mineral salts, putty, lemon rind, seawater and a dry, natural waxiness. Some historic natural liqueur with shades of honey. End: lengthy, changing into a bit of heathery, warming peppery vibes, extra properly drying waxiness, dried herbs, teas, mineral oils and umami. Feedback: a few of these early 90s batches may be fairly unlikely, however this one actually sings. Similar high quality because the 2001.
562 – 91 factors.
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