Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength

A puzzle wrapped in an enigma shrouded in a bottle

11 891

WReview by @Wierdo

26th Jan 2018

1

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
    ~
  • Overall
    91

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

I've had a challenging time with this whisky.

I decided quite early on I would review it for the site. But then every time I thought I had the flavour profile nailed down I would go back to it a few days later to confirm my flavour landmarks and the damned thing would taste different.

When people say this isn't for beginners they are not joking. I have more than 10 years drinking whisky under my belt and this challenged me. The whisky seems to be wound very tight. You know immediately upon your first sip it's a quality dram but there is lot going on and picking it apart is tough. I tried it with varying amounts of water before finally settling on 1 1/2 teaspoons in a 50ml measure as being the optimal for me (which is a lot. I never normally add more than 1/2 a teaspoon even to cask strength whiskies).

Before I knew it I was halfway down the bottle and was still trying to work it out so I thought 'stop trying to analyse it Dan and just enjoy it'

And that's when it clicked for me.

Nose

Sherry. Baked apples and fresh green apples. White wine. And something that I believe is specific to the Midlands of the UK 'Grays herbal tablets' (sort of a gingery cough sweet).

Taste

Apple strudel. Sherry. Gingerbread men. Stewed gooseberries. Flapjack.

Finish

Is quite salty and has peat.

So overall. Excellent stuff. Just challenging. But I like a challenge!

I've ordered another bottle of a different batch I found on-line.

PS.

I know lots of people don't but I like the new Springbank labels. Very 70s retro.

Related Springbank reviews

8 comments

@Hewie
Hewie commented

"Before I knew it I was halfway down the bottle and was still trying to work it out so I thought 'stop trying to analyse it Dan and just enjoy it'" Well isn't that the truth. Nice, honest review. I have two different batches open and they are quite different. I see from your picture that this is batch 15 benswhisky.co.uk/p/… I like your reference to flapjacks. Growing up, and watching American TV shows I thought flapjacks were a variant of pancakes. Having lived in the UK I know what you are referencing and it is so accurate. Keep enjoying your bottle but save a bit to compare to your next batch!

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@Wierdo, I like your review and references, it's a good description of what can happen when trying too hard to analyze what's happening in your dram. Sometimes you just have to let it happen of its own accord.

As for the labels, although I am partial to the previous update, these new ones are great, they just don't see to give a f@#* what people will think or to follow the current marketing angle.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

Thanks for the honest review! This is one I'll be looking out for this year.

Never seen Gray's herbal tabs either, so must be a Midland thing :) How much white wine is present for you? It's not a note (along with overt 'cut-grass') that I'm that keen on, generally.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

Wierdo commented

Grays herbal tablets are from Dudley. They sell them at just about every newsagents in the Midlands. But nowhere else I think.

I wouldn't let the white wine note put you off. Its only on the nose and only slight. And we're all different you might not pick it up at all.

That's the thing about this malt. Its changed quite a lot in the 2 months since I opened it. Things I pick up one dram I couldn't pick up the next Very complex.

6 years ago 0

Wierdo commented

Picked up a packet from a garage on the way home from work today.

They're a bit like Fishermens friends (If people know what they are!) but nowhere near as in your face.

6 years ago 3Who liked this?

Expand image
@KRB80
KRB80 commented

Great review of a personal favorite. Now I wanna try some flapjacks!

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@KRB80 I'm thinking of making them. Essentially what we call oat bars here.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@KRB80
KRB80 commented

@Nozinan Be sure to let me know how they come out. ;)

6 years ago 0