Origin: Campbeltown (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 55.3%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: J & A Mitchell & Co Ltd.
Average price: € 77.00
Official website: springbank.scot
Vote: 90/100
We jump by a year and a couple of editions for this celebrated and famous cask strength version of Springbank, arriving directly to this yearrelease, bottled just before the pandemic explosion, in January, with the distribution started on February 7th.
Composed of 35% ex-Sherry barrels and 65% ex-Bourbon barrels, such as the previous edition, while nothing is known about the 21st batch and whether it will be released by 2020.
Here’s the list of the releases so far:
Batch 1 (01/2010): 54,6% – 60% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 40% Sherry Butt Refill
Batch 2 (09/2010): 58,5% – 60% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 40% Sherry Butt Refill
Batch 3 (09/2011): 55,3% – 60% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 40% Sherry Butt Refill
Batch 4 (02/2012): 55,1% – 60% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 40% Sherry Butt Refill
Batch 5 (08/2012): 52,2% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 6 (01/2013): 53,1% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 7 (07/2013): 50,3% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 8 (01/2014): 52,3% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 9 (07/2014): 54,3% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% Sherry Butt Refill
Batch 10 (02/2015): 53,2% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 11 (08/2015): 53.8% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 12 (02/2016): 54.1% – 65% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 35% ex-Bourbon
Batch 13 (08/2016): 56.3% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 14 (01/2017): 54.2% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 15 (08/2017): 56.5% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 16 (02/2018): 56.3% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 17 (08/2018): 56.2% – 70% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 30% ex-Bourbon
Batch 18 (01/2019): 54.8% – 50% ex-Sherry Hogshead, 50% ex-Bourbon
Batch 19 (09/2019): 57.1% – 65% ex-Bourbon, 35% ex-Sherry Hogshead
Batch 20 (02/2020): 55.3% – 65% ex-Bourbon, 35% ex-Sherry Hogshead
Batch 21 (10/2020): 56.1% – 45% ex-Sherry, 25%, ex-Bourbon, 25%, ex-Burgundy and 5% ex-Port
Batch 22 (04/2021): 55.4% – 50% ex-Sherry, 50% ex-Bourbon
Tasting notes
Gold with amber reflections in the glass.
A whiff of peat and iodine caresses the sense of smell, almost like standing by the ocean, riding on gently delicate notes of ripe pear, peach, apricot, vanilla sugar, butter biscuits. Light spicy background notes, along with a splash of lemon and herbaceous touch. Fresh and delicate but with thickness. On the length, slight note of solvent.
It’s the sea and salty soul that prevails on the palate, with a pepper thrust that expresses the gradation without overwhelming (impressive how balanced it is), the smoke resonates in a minor tone, letting out notes of red fruits, apricot, orange, caramel (salted), licorice and chocolate. Pecans. The sweet tones embrace the salty ones in a well-orchestrated symphony, without any aspect prevailing at the expense of others. Cereals and wood glide in the background, acting as bystanders.
Long and dry finish, sea, vegetable peat, nuts, citrus fruits.
An extraordinary whisky, a jewel of balance and personality with an enviable stratification, offers a varied and at the same time relaxing drink, without those peaks sometimes typical of full gradations. It takes time but pays off with full satisfaction.
Reviews of Springbank whisky in the blog
Other perspectives:
Whisky Lifestyle