Springbank 1997 2nd Batch

cask strength, non chill filtered, no caramel.Sounds good.

this is the 2nd batch of springbank 1997 vintage, bottled at about 11 years old.

• Nose: Harsher nose, initial sweetness but more phenol and salt, pepper, tar, savoury at the back. With water: phenol and maritime note remains now the harshness is balanced out by caramel toffee

• Pallet: Thin mouth-feel, immediate sweetness, hot, pepper, salt peat, savoury nut (Brazil?) and malt flavours sour note at the end again. With water: spicier, pepper and ginger comes through really well with water more nutty flavours, sour note completely gone

• Finish: more smoke, ginger, caramel, peat returns and a mouth-watering leathery feel, sour note there again, kind of old sock (probably a bit of foost) not great. With water: tingling, saltier than neat, same leathery feel, savoury note is now far more agreeable.

Mark neat: 8.2/10. With water

a really good dram, good introduction to cask strength whisky. when drunk neat that savoury/sour/old sock note isnt great but with water it adds great contrast to the sweet and maritime flavours. The nose is a bit harsh for me even with a couple of teaspoons of water but a really good dram for sure

scores below are with water.

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