Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength
A puzzle wrapped in an enigma shrouded in a bottle
11 891
WReview by @Wierdo
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall91
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Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Springbank
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Campbeltown
- ABV: 56.5%
- Batch: 15
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.
Find where to buy Springbank whisky
"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!