Springbank 17 Years Old Sherry Wood (52.3%, OB, 9,120 Bottles, 2015)

• Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Springbank distillery
• Bottling: J & A Mitchell & Co Ltd.
• ABV: 52.3%
• Cost: £90

What they say

February is already shaping up to be an exciting month as our first three releases of 2015 officially go on sale today (Monday 2nd). The first is our brand new Springbank 17 year old Sherry Wood which has been bottled at cask strength of 5…2.3% and matured in 100% Sherry casks with 9,120 bottles available worldwide. This whisky has received excellent feedback at recent whisky shows so we are super excited to finally have it released!

Official tasting notes:

• Nose: A sherry explosion with winter fruits, spicy gingerbread and a hint of peat.
• Palate: A winter warmer. Dark orange chocolate, Christmas cake and brandy snaps. Honey and spices develop over time.
• Finish: The finish is long and smooth. Espresso coffee, liquorice, marzipan and sherry conclude the tickling of the taste buds.

What I say

In honour of its release date today 2nd February 2015 I decided to write up my tasting notes of the Springbank 17 Year Old Sherry Wood edition. This whisky was presented by Grant MacPherson of Sprinbank Distillers at an open tasting held at Woodwinters Wine & Spirits in Edinburgh on Friday 16th January 2015.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Ruby red gold
• Nose: Fruity, red berry fruits and stone fruits, strawberry, redcurrant, peach, cocoa and dark chocolate, some spiced fruitcake batter or dough, cloves and cinnamon, sweet golden syrup or honey
• Taste: Warming, fruity jammy black fruits, blackcurrant and bramble jam, hints of strawberry and peaches, currants and raisins, peaty smoke develops, tobacco, clove oil, cinnamon and nutmeg (Christmas or mulling) spices, malty barley, orange zest and oil, dark chocolate and coffee
• Finish: Long, earthy peat, jammy fruits, mouth-coating and drying, sherry, chocolate and tannic leather

Overall

A classic Springbank expression with pure sherry maturation using a high proportion of Oloroso casks, perfectly drinkable at 52.3% ABV. Dark fruits and masses of cocoa and tannins beautifully balance that dirty, oily and earthy peat smoke. If anything the Springbank maltiness takes a back seat here, filling out the body and supporting all those wonderfully strong sherry flavours. At just over 9,000 bottles you had better snap this up fast if you want to try it!

Score 89/100

Don’t take my word for it:

Klaus’s Daily Drams review Springbank 17 Sherry Wood 

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