ALL the Springbank Wooden Expressions

Springbank 12 yo 1989/2002 (54.6%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, rum end, 5700 bottles)
Color: pale straw. Nostril: humorous how these batches begin to come throughout as fairly ‘quaint’ as of late; it is definitely from the ‘much less possible’ period of manufacturing at Springbank with all these impressions of crushed greenery, swimming pool water, clay, chalk and oily toolbox rags. What’s good although is that it nonetheless feels moderately ‘Springbank’ and never completely swamped by overt rum. With water: peppery and nonetheless very a lot on clay and mineral oils, however I am unable to assist however discover it total a tad flat. Mouth: a bit humorous actually, on sheep wools, clays, ointments, previous steel cash, steel polish and barely sooty and cardboardy qualities. It is okay, however I am not too positive… with water: a sense of plainness now nearly, with these notes of moist grains, vegetable soup, some aniseed, some extra clay, maybe a glimmer of medication. End: medium, fairly peppery, a tad salty and extra clay and chalk. Feedback: Undecided what to say, these weren’t the best vintages to be sincere. There’s not a lot flawed with it, I simply discover it moderately flat and slightly empty.
SGP: 352 – 79 factors.

Longrow 13 yo 1989/2002 (53.2%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’ sherry, 2350 bottles)
Color: deep gold. Nostril: fairly medicinal, however extra a lighter shade of Longrow I’d say. The peat would not instantly leap out at you as in later vintages. That is extra on seawater, dry roast peanuts, bandages and some hints of mechanical oils and smoked lemons. With water: chamomile tea, bonfire embers and miso. A moderately umami profile emerges. Mouth: softer peat smoke and a sense of burnt toast, graphite oil and smoky bacon crisps. Some uncommon issues, and as soon as once more with this moderately industrial facet too. Some camphor and black pepper include slightly time. The sherry is there, however moderately subdued, was this refill sherry? With water: higher now I believe, extra focussed on tarry rope, camphor, delicate peppery peat smoke and a few moderately sharp salinity. End: good size, a tad vegetal and rustic in locations, however nonetheless with good peppery and smoky bacon qualities exhibiting. Feedback: a pleasant wee drop, however as soon as once more, as with Springbank, I really feel they actually improved manufacturing a couple of years later.
SGP: 464 – 83 factors.

Springbank 13 yo 1989/2003 (54.2%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, port pipes, 3120 bottles)
Color: rose-amber. Nostril: the port wooden positively has a louder voice right here than the rum did within the earlier Springbank. Which I really feel really works on this occasion up to now, it is moderately sticky with darkish fruits, plum sauce, sultanas, Madeira cake and issues like crimson berry fruits and candy youngsters’s cough medicines. With water: wild strawberries, baked bananas, cherry lip gloss and slightly eucalyptus – very beautiful really. Mouth: slightly too jammy on arrival for me, strikes extra into the territory of wine finishes than port in some respects with these notes of shiraz, strawberry jam and balsamic onion. Juicy however a bit flabby in texture and never fairly positive of itself. With water: significantly better! Loses this overtly jammy facet and turns into a bit extra balanced shows this good mixture of crimson fruits, sultanas, bramble leaf and nettle tea. One stray bandage reminds us there was as soon as some peat concerned right here. End: medium and moderately candy, on crimson fruit teas, jams, fruit cordials and liquorice. Feedback: fairly a experience. The nostril was total fairly wonderful, however an imbalanced wobble on the neat palate was saved by water. I used to be teetering all over with a rating, however the enjoyable facet of this one has received me over in the long run…
SGP: 552 – 85 factors.

Springbank 12 yo 1990/2003 (52.4%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, sherry butts, 1799 bottles)
Color: pale amber. Nostril: a moderately ‘Springbank’ type of sherry, with all this gun steel, flints, recreation meats, animal furs and hints of treacle, pure tar and wooden embers. There’s additionally a contact of natural cough combine and smoked paprika. I am fairly a fan, up to now. With water: salted liquorice, fennel seed, cough medicines and wormwood. A pleasant natural / medical profile rising. Mouth: all on roasted combined nuts, milk chocolate, paprika, chilli oil, coal mud and bandages. A particular ‘mid period’ profile of Springbank, however it sort of works with this moderately gamey sherry type – it is definitely charismatic. With water: goes extra in direction of the earthier features. Issues like aged pinot noir, BBQ sauce, dry roast peanuts and aged orange peels. End: good size and fairly earthy, but in addition fairly a couple of darkish ales, rye bread and umami vibes similar to miso and marmite. Feedback: ‘sturdy’ you would possibly say. Of this period of manufacturing, I’d say this is among the higher/extra fascinating examples. At instances it was perhaps on the cusp of being slightly too bizarre or grubby, however it all the time pulled again from the sting.
SGP: 462 – 86 factors.

Springbank 12 yo 1991/2004 (58.5%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, bourbon hogsheads & barrels, 5986 bottles)
Color: straw. Nostril: a completely completely different story! All on hay, limestone, moist rocks, chalk and lemon barley water. Additionally very slight touches of soot, bandages, seawater and heather flowers. Clear, crisp and refreshing. With water: extra on dusty malt bins, grist, mash water and oatcakes. It has that ‘working distillery’ vibe about it. Mouth: moderately chiselled and focussed on minerals, pebbles, white flowers, chalk and hints of shoe polish, watercress and slightly mustard powder. Superb, however fairly a world other than the present 10yo for instance. With water: rounder, fatter and waxier now. On lemon barley water, dry and delicate peat smoke, hessian and coal mud. Nonetheless additionally moderately focussed on uncooked substances and barely yeasty features. End: medium, dry, moderately sizzling and peppery, and nonetheless on breads, beers, ink, mash water and yeast. Feedback: of its time, however an excellent dram in its personal proper, you simply want to love them moderately uncooked and rugged!
SGP: 362 – 85 factors.

Springbank 14 yo 1989/2004 (52.8%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 12 years in refill sherry + 2 years in contemporary port pipes, 7200 bottles)
Color: mild amber. Nostril: barely sharp and tangy with fruit acids, plum wine and hints of cellar should and hessian. Additionally touches of steel polish and lamp oil with some dried darkish fruits. Up to now the sherry and port mixture works fairly nicely I’d say. With water: extra on tobaccos and damp cellar earth with some sweeter darkish fruity notes similar to damson protect and fig. Mouth: similar feeling of tanginess, you might be munching on a Tangfastic. There’s additionally some cherry cough drugs, crimson currants, pink grapefruit and Tizer! These sorts of sharp and popping fruity notes combined with darker notes of hessian, bitter chocolate and earth which really anchor the entire thing moderately nicely. With water: slightly extra in regards to the Springbank now, with some frivolously peppery peat smoke and hints of bonfire embers, anthracite and a dry waxiness. End: good size, moderately peppery, earthy, sooty and going in direction of hessian rags, toolbox oils and steel polish. A solitary sultana bobbing about within the aftertaste. Feedback: higher than anticipated I’d say. The sherry and port appeared to have knocked one another into some sort of cohesive and well-balanced form, whereas the distillery character emerges blinking into the solar with slightly water. Superb.
SGP: 563 – 87 factors.

Longrow 10 yo 1995/2005 (55.6%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 8 years in refill wooden + 2 years in contemporary Tokaji, 7440 bottles)
I bear in mind this one inflicting some ripples of dialog upon launch on the time. A divisive dram that appeared to create adulation and repulsion in equal measure. Though, it has been so lengthy since I attempted it, I am unable to really bear in mind what I consider it anymore. Let’s discover out… Color: amber. Nostril: beefy! Actually, a number of beef inventory, Bovril, bitter darkish chocolate powder, suet, venison sausages, gravy and in time this moderately tarry, grubby peat smoke rising too. I’ve to say, it is moderately quite a lot of enjoyable, however I can see why it will divide the group! In time it will get extra in direction of these mulchy, mushroomy and earthy qualities. With water: very leafy, earthy, chocolatey and filled with damp pipe tobaccos, pickled walnuts, recreation salami and slightly treacle. Mouth: excessive stuff! Very earthy and meaty as soon as once more however on the similar time nearly jarringly candy and sticky on botrytis, booze soaked raisins, Christmas pudding and glazed walnuts. Pulls you in numerous instructions concurrently. With water: sweetness once more, verging on cloying in all probability, however some properly spice-infused smokiness brings it again. Dry roast peanuts, bonfire embers and black pepper all coming via slightly in a while. Nonetheless globally very meaty, earthy and… chunky. End: lengthy, very earthy, some grubby meaty vibes, soot, leather-based, tobacco and creating a pleasant natural bitterness in there too. Nonetheless an excessive type although. Feedback: straightforward to see why this might be such a divisive whisky. There is a meatiness that strays into difficult territories at instances, and which might jar a bit with the residual sweetness of the Tokaji on the palate (not a lot flushing of casks went on right here I count on) however total there is a attraction about it which is difficult to refute. I believe it’s going to stay a divisive one perpetually. The truth is, I simply checked Serge’s authentic notes from 2005 and it seems to be like he was by no means impressed (WF49). Ha! Perhaps this one has improved with 17 years (sure, 17!!!) in glass. Or maybe I am only a little bit of a softie? Irrespectively, my key takeaway right here is: I need a glass of Tokaji!
SGP:674 – 78 (moderately meaningless) factors.

Springbank 9 yo 1996/2006 (58.0%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 7 years in refill bourbon + 2 years in contemporary marsala, 7740 bottles)
Marsala being a fortified Italian wine which could be dry or candy. Color: deep gold. Nostril: seems like moderately candy Marsala concerned right here as there’s a right away sticky darkish fruit sweetness occurring. Brown breads, candy ruby ales, coal smoke, honey cake and plum wine. Additionally wee touches of treacle and hessian. With water: touches of blood orange and grenadine now, additionally some pink grapefruit. Feels prefer it’s turning into total slightly fruitier and lighter on its ft. Mouth: extra assertive distillery character right here with this good mixture of mechanical oils, delicate waxes, peat embers and dried herbs. Some pink peppercorns, sandalwood and chai tea impressions too. Enjoyable and moderately complicated actually. With water: turns into a tad extra bitter and a bit greener now, goes in direction of lemongrass, chlorophyll and natural teas. End: medium in size and properly peppery with ginger and cinnamon. Feedback: total a less complicated providing and I believe the marsala on this event works fairly nicely.
SGP: 562 – 84 factors.

Springbank 16 yo 1991/2007 (54.2%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 8 years in refill bourbon + 8 years in contemporary rum, 5100 bottles)
Color: straw. Nostril: moderately mashy and fermentary at first with beers, breads, hay and this moderately rugged gristy vibe. After that some medicines like tiger balm, then lemon verbena and cider apple funk. With water: on humorous issues now like ink, vinyl, vase water and model new trainers. Extra inexperienced issues like chlorophyll and crushed flower stems. Mouth: similar kind of mashup of farmyard notes, breads, yeasty qualities and light-weight medicinal qualities. Nonetheless moderately sharp and slightly salty, inexperienced apples, mineral salts, lime peel and chalk. Getting a bit drying now as nicely and feeling a bit austere. With water: a contact of barley sweetness comes skulking again, however usually nonetheless moderately on greenery, mild salinity, faint medicinal vibes and mashy cereal notes. End: medium in size. Reasonably crisp, inexperienced – acidic even – and sharp. Feedback: I am undecided I get a lot rum affect. Having mentioned that, I do not get a lot basic Springbank character both. There’s a lot enticing qualities occurring right here, however it feels prefer it’s slightly bit adrift.
SGP: 462 – 82 factors.

Longrow 7 yo 2000/2008 (55.8%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 5.5 years in refill bourbon + 1.5 years in contemporary Gaja Barolo, 12120 bottles)
Color: brilliant copper. Nostril: fairly a giant, fermentary themed peat smoke with a number of pepper, aniseed, tar and marmalade on the boil. Tipping over into barely overripe oranges – which Serge appears to search out ceaselessly in these winey Longrows – with sooty and farmyard vibes bustling about too. With water: extra leathery, extra earthy, some tobaccos, mushroom powder, graphite and a wee trace of rubber. Mouth: playful and moderately impressively peaty, but in addition comes with a barely jarring sense of the peat and wine combating for supremacy. Some sticky preserved fruits, pickled onions and smoked meats. With water: feels a bit extra cohesive now. Bouillon, soot, mashed turnip, whisky cream (let’s assume Haggis as nicely?) hessian, extra barely musty citrus fruits and this moderately typical Longrow peppery peaty flavour. End: good size, some damp grainy notes, a properly earthy, gruff smokiness and notes of actual ale. Feedback: I am slightly shocked, on paper I should not get pleasure from this combo, however it works fairly nicely on this event.
SGP: 665 – 84 factors.

Springbank 11 yo 1997/2009 (55.1%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, madeira wooden, 9090 bottles)
I bear in mind shopping for a bottle of this one from Loch Fyne Whiskies on the time it was launched and totally having fun with it… Color: orangey gold. Nostril: yup, a wonderful saltiness on high of some resinous darkish fruit notes, hessian, dunnage should and a few moderately mineral, medicinal-tinged peat smoke. Additionally issues like honey-glazed ham, camphor and pure tar extract. Glorious, and exhibiting luggage of distillery character. With water: treacle, soot, menthol tobacco, hardwood resins and a way of wine should and bodega funk (sorry, I do know that is madeira!) Mouth: huge arrival! All on pure tar, sticky darkish fruits, smoked meats, natural bitters, aniseed, salted Dutch liquorice and extra camphor and hessian qualities. Actually thick within the mouth and splendidly peppery and waxy. With water: turns into juicier and fruitier, a moderately playful sweetness that comes with crimson fruits, bramble wine, after which medical features like a drop of iodine and cough drugs. End: lengthy, tarry, peppery, elegantly candy, medicinal and frivolously natural within the aftertaste. Feedback: I nonetheless adore it, though I’m wondering if it hasn’t improved with a decade in glass, turning into extra rounded and complicated than I bear in mind. Or maybe time is simply doing its factor on my mind? Anyway, the total time period maturation in nice high quality casks, mixed with an undeniably tip-tip classic for Springbank has actually labored right here.
SGP: 552 – 89 factors.

Springbank 12 yo 1997/2010 (54.4%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 9 years in refill bourbon + 3 years in contemporary claret, 9360 bottles)
Claret after all being crimson wine from Bordeaux, though we do not know the chateau. Color: brilliant coppery amber. Nostril: brilliant and candy crimson fruitiness, with amaretto biscuits, strawberry jam, orange peel and eucalyptus oil. I moderately like this candy and fragrant profile up to now. With water: ever so barely extra earthy and exhibiting tobaccos and candy crimson liquorice – nonetheless very enticing and simple. Mouth: candy and targeting crimson fruits once more, additionally with this barely minty word of… nicely, of mint. But additionally bramble leaf, cassis, treacle and these kinds of fruity youngsters’s medicines similar to Calpol. I’m slightly discombobulated, however I moderately get pleasure from this… With water: candy marmalade, orange muscat wine, treacle pudding, bergamot and slightly black pepper. There’s additionally this faint vibe of recreation meats and darkish chocolate. End: good size, moderately quite a lot of earthy darkish teas, blackcurrant, treacle and a few darkish fruit compotes. Feedback: what was that? Most likely one in all my favourites completed Springbanks, I like this fusion of candy, fruity, earthy and medicinal. To not point out the truth that there’s completely no cloying or disjointed features coming from the wine that I can detect. 1997 appears to be after they had been actually again on type at Springbank.
SGP: 652 – 87 factors.

Hazelburn 8 yo 2002/2011 (55.9%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 5 years in refill bourbon + 3 years in Sauternes casks, 9180 bottles)
I do not assume I ever tasted this one earlier than, however I’m usually a fan of sauternes wooden maturation… Color: amber. Nostril: way more on heather honey and stewed fruits than the others, so extra usually Hazelburn I suppose with this sense of lightness and sweetness. Beneath, although, there’s additionally some moderately Springbank-esque hessian and delicate waxy notes too. A wee tobacco pouch and a few sultanas. Very enticing! With water: extra open and fragrant, on leather-based, leaf mulch, darkish chocolate and figs stewed candy wines. A contact of shoe polish and one thing barely extra mechanical exhibiting after some time. Mouth: delicate, candy and with quite a lot of gelatinous fruitiness, darkish fruit compotes, treacle, some impressions of previous Armagnac and candied citrus peels. Feels significantly older than 8 years. Nonetheless these beautiful honey, tobacco leaf and darkish fruit qualities in steadiness. With water: as soon as once more this terrific fusion of oils, tobaccos, sultanas, prunes, heather honey, black espresso and chocolate. I’ve to say, very good! End: lengthy, treacley, sweetly fruity, honeyed and with many sticky darkish fruits and earthy tobacco notes. Feedback: As soon as once more, Sauternes appears to work some magic. Most likely my favorite of all of the youthful Hazelburn OBs. I had good feels about this one however it nonetheless got here as one thing of a shock I’ve to say, completely love this mulchy, candy and really tobacco pushed profile.
SGP: 751 – 88 factors.

Longrow 14 yo 1997/2011 (56.1%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 11 years in refill bourbon + 3 years in contemporary burgundy, 7800 bottles)
Color: orangey amber. Nostril: undecided I get an enormous quantity of peat up entrance on this one, it is extra on very sticky fruit compotes, jams, quince and treacle. There is a resinous saltiness within the background although, together with some oily hessian material, which feels a bit extra Longrowish. General slightly closed on the neat nostril although. With water: undecided water helps, loses definition and feels very sickly and spicy but in addition a bit disjointed and sort of floppy. Mouth: peated orange squash and wine should. Apricot jam slathered on honey glazed ham, dusted with cabinet spices and washed down with cherry cough syrup. Fairly troublesome I believe. With water: very syrupy, jarringly candy and once more feeling flabby and usually moderately wobbling all over. Bizarre artificially sweetened drugs flavours with some rotting orange peels. End: medium in size however a tad flat, musty and bitter, some extra of those moderately rotten fruit notes and turning into way more drying. Feedback: Not a fan of this one in any respect I am afraid. Began out unlikely, then acquired bizarre, then grew to become simply not excellent for my part. Longrow + Burgundy = carnage in my wee opinion I am afraid.
SGP: 363 – 71 factors.

Springbank 12 yo 2000/2012 (52.7%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 6 years in refill bourbon + 6 years in contemporary Calvados casks, 9420 bottles)
I bear in mind this one being launched and it feels moderately intensely prefer it was solely final week. Therein lies whisky’s true energy: the warping of time and reminiscence. Anyway, not too positive Calvados wooden is technically permitted by the SWA? However then after all they now enable Tequila for Diageo, so undecided they actually have a lot credibility in telling smaller producers what the can and might’t do… Color: pale gold. Nostril: might be thoughts methods, however I do certainly detect apples and pears at first nosing. Apple pie, candy breakfast cereals, delicate waxes, putty, lemon oil and a few orchard fruit teas. Additionally delicate inexperienced issues like gooseberry, nettle and myrtle. Elegant, delicate and really enticing  up to now. With water: absolutely on Springbank distillate now, a number of waxes, coastal freshness, mineral oils and delicate inexperienced and citrus fruits within the background. Mouth: moderately extra on classical, good fashionable Springbank right here, with a number of clay, seaside pebbles, threads of peat and delicate waxy notes. Some citrus rinds, sooty notes and smoky mashy flavours. With water: slightly peatier, fatter, oilier and as soon as once more going extra emphatically in direction of the distillery character – which is nice after all! Good dry waxiness, coastal notes, sandalwood and wee camphor notes. End: good size, properly coastal, refreshingly mineral and with a wisp of peat smoke. Feedback: a wonderful drop, however I am undecided what the Calvados actually brings to the proceedings right here. Feels prefer it’s finest qualities come despite the double maturation, not a lot due to it.
SGP: 462 – 87 factors.

Springbank 9 yo 2004/2013 (54.7%, OB ‘Wooden Expressions’, 4 years in refill bourbon + 5 years in contemporary Gaja Barolo casks, 11000 bottles)
Color: gold. Nostril: lemon and honey, not in contrast to nosing a sizzling toddy! Goes on with citrons, waxes, putty, lemon barley water, heather honey and a few baked apples. A sense of candy younger dessert wines greater than Barolo to my nostril. However definitely extra restrained and chic up to now. With water: yellow plums, honey, delicate waxiness, candy breakfast cereals and flower pollens. Mouth: some typical Springbank fatness with hessian and waxes mingling with stewed apricots, baked apple and numerous jammy tones. Appears like a Venn diagram of Springbank and generic wineyness with minimal crossover. However having mentioned that, it is fairly good I believe as most of those wine features appear fairly mild, candy and simple. With water: honeys, delicate waxes, frivolously peppery, some shoe polish and extra notes of apricot jam and impressions of yellow flowers. End: medium in size, slightly drier, extra on cereals, dried flowers, pepper and mineral oil. Feedback: in all probability amongst the higher of wine expressions on this sequence. Appears like a dram of two moderately separate halves, however they co-exist in relative concord so no complaints from me.
SGP: 552 – 86 factors.