I have not yet come around to the Springbank and why it's so popular. I have tasted about equally many good ones as bad ones, as I have from most other distilleries. Many people mention the craft, and some mention older bottlings from way back. I did enjoy the recent Springbank CV a lot when tasting at a friends house the other day, so perhaps there's gold in the newer productions as well? I'll try and find out today by trying 6 young versions, 4 Springbanks, 1 hazelburn and 1 Longrow.
Hazelburn 8yo 46% OB
This is an unpeated whisky, light in color with a standard watered down strength. I think I only did try one Hazelburn before, which was quite good. Think it ended up on a 7. Smells light, malty, hay, some caramel sweetness, butterscotch, grows on me after a while in the glass. Becomes more robust, peppery, green apples and burnt rubber. The taste is quite spirity, apple cider, lemon meringue, light and spirity, and some restrained fruitiness. After a while it becomes less demanding and a bit boring, light style, light stuff, light in every way. Reminds me of some older Glen Grants that were bottled at young age. Light and spirity at first, then a bit fruity and dies within minutes when oxygen is added to the mix.
I hope to find other Hazelburns that can correct my current impression: 3.5
Springbank NAS 46% OB CV 2010
I tasted a recent bottling of this version that was newly opened the same night a couple months ago. That was very good, will this one be the same? It should in theory. Smells grassy, honey, leather, waxy, old style. I do like this one so far. The taste is peppery and peaty, could be mixed with some old style Ledaig, the 80's and 90's bottlings were very little coastal when thinking of the geographic position of the distillery. Peppery, peaty, licorice, a pretty straight and unsophisticated malt. Sort of an entry level Springbank, which I think it should be. Easily drinkable, light in style, but the nose is the star as it brings it up a notch from total mediocracy.
A good whisky, but not for the adventurous kind: 4.5
Springbank 11yo 1997-2009 55.1% OB
As the hurricane, or storm as might be the meteorologically correct term, "Berit" is raging on the banks of Norway, how appropriate is it not to sit down with this spanish madeira matured Springbank and dream of golden sand and degrees just below 30? Enough of that! This one has a nice golden brown, sort of dark rum color. Smells sweet, honey and coriander, spicy and sweet must say, wow! I do like this far lot better than the past two!!! Exotic treat, honey continues as well as dark berries, cinnamon, oyster and pineapple, sweet and salty at the same time! And Guinnes stout as well. Heavy stuff! The taste is more peaty, and sour, reminds me a bit about some dirty harry liqueur (licorice liqueur). Also a bit on the dry side, needs water perhaps. With some water it becomes again like this summer breeze, notes of hawaiian fruits, pine apples and coconuts, leather, rum style, some honey, but less spicy than the nose. The finish is burnt and peppery, not the best I've had.
A fun whisky, not a malt whisky style, more like a rum whisky?: 6
Springbank 10yo 57% OB
This is one of the two that's also known as 100 Proof bottlings. Proof is the american measurement of alcohol within a liquid. 70proof=40%, 80proof=46% and 100proof=57%. I think those are the most commonly used strengths that are printed in both values. Smells light and sugary, roasted almonds, toffee, burnt sugar, dried fruits, mango and apricot. The taste is very peaty and peppery, and again a bit one-dimensional, as with the CV. When given some time, let's say 15 minutes it opens up a bit. oaky, salty licorice, pork stock, smoked ham, could've been a rustic treat, but it's just a bit too spirity for my taste. I know there are people that loves this stuff, but not me. Burnt, spirity, with some nice hints of greatness lurking in the background. Come out please!!!
I wish some of these Springbanks performed as well on the palate as on the nose: 4.5
Springbank 11yo 1997-2008 59.4% OB for Oddbins cask#789
A cask matured one, for Oddbins, which is the main high street liquor chain if trying to get hold of a bottle of whisky in the UK. A bit pricey, and sort of main-stream, what whisky is concerned if you ask me. I am yet to find a decent bottle of Fettercairn in an Oddbins shop. I had an exclusive for Oddbins a couple years back, it was an oloroso-matured Bruichladdich, an I remember it was not my favorite, by far. Let's hope this one does better. Brown color, smooth sherried, oloroso on the nose, not as sweet as it could've been, but very round...(?) Sort of a mellow sweetness and cinnamon and nutmeg, barbeque, leather, shallots, steam from cooked red wine, garlic, basil, roasted bacon, onions and red bell peppers. Amazing so far, but I hope the palate won't disappoint me like it has to a certain degree so far in this tasting. The taste is Wow! But not necessarily in a good way, it's all on soft sweet licorice, allsorts style, almost like a candy whisky, and sour on the gums, but what is happening here, no aftertaste at all... Maybe it needs water. With water it becomes a bit more enjoyable, roasted nuts and black peppers are added to the mix, but still, a huge disappointment on the palate.
This malt should be a deodorant, smells fantastic, but I don't wanna drink it: 3
Longrow 10yo 57% OB
Another 100proof one, Longrow is the most peated of the Springbank family, and I do not have too much experience with it. But I remember quite well one that was finished on Gajo Barolo wood (or something like that) that was far from my liking. Could the peat in this one make it clim a bit higher on the scale than the Springbank version did? Smells peaty, vanilla, cream, milky, ever been to a dairy? I'm getting mixed input from this one, it's hard to describe. Peaty, yet so soft an silky. Time to taste. The taste is peaty yes, and smoky, briny, bonfire, crispy batter and salty sausage, meaty if you know what I mean, excellent stuff. Finally one that where as good, or even better on the palate than the on the nose. This one could easily flogg any Islay whisky any day. Even now, about ten minutes since last swallow I can still feel that peat sensation.
You have to like peat, and I do: 6.5
Next tasting: Port Ellen Distillery
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