Springbank 19 Year Old 1996 for BYOB-C

The Lads of Lobland series already consist of a great Clynelish. Now this club brings us a wonderfully dark Springbank, clearly from a sherry cask. They shared the cask with the Dutch casQueteers who sold the remaining 160 bottles among their members. Nice label, by the way. I am going to take my time for this one.

The nose is very fruity with the emphasis on all kinds of red fruit. Think berries, strawberries, figs, raisnins and blood oranges, but also mocha and whipped cream. That last thing especially, I might add. A good helping of honey, loads of nuts and caramel. There is a pinch of salt and some peat all the way in the back, but you have to look for it. That is, by the way, the only hint you get that this is Springbank. Clearly this was a hyper active cask.

Wonderful mouth feel: creamy, almost syrupy The ABV is perfect and makes for a sturdy arrival full of fruit. Dried apricots, pineapple on the barbecue. But now it is clear very quickly that this is Springbank. Some chalk and jute shine through immediately, followed by a big smokiness and a handful of black peppers and a stray grain of salt.

Good long finish on dried fruit of all kinds wrapped in a smoky blanket.

A Springbank sherry monster! Admittedly, not much is left of the distillery character, but this is a damn fine dram. Thanks, Dominic, I’m very happy with my bottle no. 50 of 50.

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