Springbank 15 Years Old (46%, OB, 2013)

• Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky
• 46% ABV,
• RRP £47.50 for 70cl
• Score 90/100

What they say:

Like a storm gathering of the Kintyre coast, dark and ominous, yet tastes so good. The richness comes from the high percentage of sherry casks used in maturation. This is a truly classic Springbank, best enjoyed after dinner, or with your favourite cigar.

100% sherry cask

Nose:

Sherry, dark chocolate, christmas cake, almonds, toffee and oak.

Palate:

Creamy, raisins, dark chocolate, figs, marzipan, brazil nuts and vanilla.

Finish:

Oak and sherry notes sustain, mingling with hints of leather.

What I say:

Purchased from Cadenhead’s [http://www.wmcadenhead.com/] whisky shop on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. After attending the launch symposium for the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic held at Our Dynamic Earth I decided to drop by on the way home through Edinburgh and see what was on offer. After a brief chat with the guys in the shop I sampled a little of the Calvados finish Springbank that had a beautiful apple brandy aroma but I wasn’t sure how well the Calvados finish translated into the taste of the whisky. Following this I opted for the Springbank 15 year old as a fine example of a Sherry maturation of Springbank’s distillate.

Colour:

Dark Amber

Nose:

Fudge, butterscotch, toffee, caramelised sugar, red wine and oak wood

Taste:

This is initially spicy black pepper which recedes rapidly into sticky toffee pudding with rum and raisin ice cream with muskovado sugar and suede leather

Finish:

Warm and lingering, sweet and bitter with a little bourbon cream biscuit

Would I buy it again:

Yes I most definitely would. Springbank’s output never fails to impress and this sherried 15 year old really does the business. This is a complex dram but is really very pleasurable to taste and drink. The flavours roll around in the mouth and really come together even though they span everything from leather to sweet butterscotch fudge. My overall impression is Mellow! This has a great sweet/salt/bitter balance that incorporates the peat smoke, sea salt brine and fruit sherry flavours perfectly. A perfect dram to relax with after a hard day’s work.