Springbank 18 Year Old
You Can Bank On It
0 590
Review by @talexander
- Nose22
- Taste24
- Finish20
- Balance24
- Overall90
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- Brand: Springbank
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Campbeltown
- ABV: 46%
During my last trip to Scotland in May, we had the great pleasure of touring the Springbank distillery in Campbeltown. We got a chance to quickly meet Director of Production Frank McHardy, and had a fantastic tour, culminating in a tasting in the rooms at the back of Cadenhead's retail store nearby. I spent a little bit too much money there........
.....but I didn't buy this bottle there - got it at the ol' overpriced LCBO. The 18 Year Old is released annually, in a limited run of 9000 bottles. It is 80% matured in sherry casks and 20% in bourbon barrels and, as with all Springbanks, is non-coloured and non-chill-filtered.
The colour is a deep coppery gold. On the nose, rum raisin, chocolate hazelnut and strawberries. Malty and spicy. A hint of mint. Very complex, a lot going on and all these different notes work together very well. Water brings out a very subtle, light balsamic quality. Very interesting.
On the palate, briny, with vanilla and white pepper. Very Springbank, and with berries and cream. Buttery and delicious. Water seriously ups the spicy heat, bringing cayenne pepper! Wow!
The finish is quite gentle at first, then developing into cinnamon and nutmeg - but near the end becomes a little too bitter. That is the only off note in what is otherwise one of the great Springbanks. Jim Murray scores this a 90.5, and it won Best Campbeltown Single Mat at the 2012 World Whiskies Awards. I cannot recommend highly enough a trip to Campbeltown, where you can visit a distillery that is a time machine to a bygone era of whisky-making; purchase some rare bottlings at Cadenhead's; and finish with many impossible-to-find drams at the Ardshiel Hotel.
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Great review, chock full of useful info! I'm a big Springbank fan. I plan on visiting a few of Scotland's infamous scotch tours next summer. Is there an ideal time to visit? I suppose I can look up some of the whisky fests online to figure that out . . . .
As for the 18, how does the one you have compare to the D&T version? Ever try the D&T 18?
I'm on the fence about shelling out the requisite clams for a D&T 18. I've tasted it at Highland Stillhouse near Portland, but I've never tasted the second regular 18. It's 92 proof, as opposed to 112 proof in the D&T.
Not sure if more strength equals more character. It often does, but not always. I never like to sacrifice balance and charm for mere heat. I get what you're saying about the bitter end note. It's been a while since I tasted the D&T 18. That's the only version in a bar in Portland area or I would try the other. No bars stock it.
Gotta love Mick, self proclaimed "Publican" of the Stillhouse (owner). He goes for it! Without his place (which ain't exactly a bargain when it comes to prices, but hey it's got over 500 whiskies and a frickin warehouse full of scotch nearby to keep bottles in stock!), my knowledge of good scotch would be miles behind where I am now, and of course I"ve still got a long way to go before I reach your level of knowledge. Again, great review, T!