Origin: Campbeltown (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Gradation: 57.7%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Additional Coloring: No
Owner: J & A Mitchell & Co Ltd.
Average price: € 140.00
Official website: springbank.scot
Vote: 88/100
After the 2019 edition, we go back one year and taste the 2018 version of this whisky, made by Springbank using only barley of local origin.
As already explained in the previous article, there were five editions planned, and they are the following:
2016 – 16 years at 54.3%ABV, 80% ex-Bourbon and 20% ex-Sherry.
2017 – 11 years at 53.1%ABV, ex-Bourbon + 10 years at 57.3%, 70% ex-Bourbon and 30% ex-Sherry.
2018 – 9 years at 57.7%ABV, 80% ex-Bourbon and 20% ex-Sherry.
2019 – 10 years at 56.2%ABV, 77% ex-Bourbon , 20% ex-Sherry and 3% ex-Port.
The subject of this article is the version from the second half of 2018, distilled in July 2009, matured 80% in ex-Bourbon and 20% in ex-Sherry, bottled cask strength in October 2018.
Tasting notes
Light gold color with some coppery reflection.
Peat with a vegetable and fleshy smell at the same time, with a good component of anise to spice it up, enriched by a massive supply of ripe yellow fruit (peach, apricot, melon). On the deck you find custard, toasted cereal and a sea breeze that caresses the aromas bringing a little sparkling freshness. On the length, slight balsamic scent. Very rich and layered.
Warm and spicy at the entrance, with cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of ginger, it releases waves of smoked and oily peat in which the sweetest component is crushed and silenced, bringing out dried fruits (hazelnut and plum), licorice and dark chocolate. Over time, orange juice shaded on some smoked fish.
Finish quite long, spicy, ash, orange.
Less complex and disruptive than the brother released the following year, it still presents a beautiful evolution and pushes to the sip gladly, confirming this as a really successful series.