Working my way through some core range Springbanks - if you can call the fluctuating yearly releases "core". Being distinct with the release year is important, at least! This here is the 2019 release of Springbank 25 year old, and I've had exactly zero of any version before.
1.0 (Deep copper)
Nose
My initial thought was "closed off", but I take that back. There's quite a bit to dissect here, and I'm not sure I'll do it proper justice. First of all - it clearly needs some time and effort. Bit of smoke and some dried leaves. A little paint remover, perhaps? Mint? Yes, a little mint. Toothpaste-ish. Fruit. With all that weird stuff going on, there's plenty of sweetness to be found as well. Pears and oranges.
Palate
Hints of smoke, a ton of fruit. Considerably more fruits up front than the nose suggests. Still pears and oranges. Cinnamon. Again, it takes some wrestling to peel of the layers here. Oily, waxy and salty. A lot of salt, actually.
Finish
Slightly winey, some nuts, faint hints of metal. Bread and some more fruits. Really long finish for a 46%-er. The last puffs of smoke and an assortment of kippery notes are last to leave the party.
Wow, I don't even know how to summarize this. It's not too weird at first glance, but rather a pleasant and flavorful fruity dram. However, if one goes looking, there's no end to the complexity party. Score? My guess is 85 on some days and 95 on others. I really have no idea, but tonight feels like an 87. Weird, fun, not even close to an everyday whisky.
Score
87 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
Image used with permission from www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com
| Country | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Region | Campbeltown |
| Brand | Springbank |
| Distillery | Springbank Distillery |
| Abv (%) | 46 |
| Age | 25 |
| Batch/Cask | 2019 Release |
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