Springbank 14 Year Old Tasting Room

I got this sample from my buddy Jan VC, who visited the distillery and filled his bottle in the tasting room (I also got a sample of the Hazelburn, Longrow and Kilkerran Tasting Room and will try them soon).

The nose is creamy and a tad farmy. Think (albeit pretty clean) horse stable. Also the sweetness of prunes, cherries and sugared almonds. Turkish delight. Lot of citrus. Heather and dried grass. Coffee. Gravy. That is a first! This was most likely an ex-sherry cask. Interesting and pleasant. Water brings out the farmy side.

On the palate it is sweet and salty at the same time. The Turkish delight and gravy return, upholstered by course sea salt and white pepper. Despite the high ABV, it does not need water. But let us give it a try anyway. Softer, but almost no change in taste. Just a little bitterness, towards the end, as if from grapefruit.

The finish is bittersweet and very, very long. It remains peppery.

Lovers of dark Springbank are going to go nuts over this. You will have to visit the distillery to get it, of course. Thanks, Jan!

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