Springbank 12 Years Old 2001 Single Cask

By Barry Bradford on June 29, 2016 • ( Leave a comment )

Springbank 12 Years Old Society Port Cask 2001 (53.5%, OB, Society, F Port HH, 300 Bottles, 2013)

Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky
Origin: Springbank Distillery
Bottling: J & A Mitchell & Company for Springbank Society
ABV: 53.5%
Cost: £57

What they say

Springbank 12 Year Old Society Bottling was specially selected – from samples chosen by Distillery Manager Gavin McLachlan by the Society Members who attended a tasting in Campbeltown on Wednesday 22nd May 2013.

Distilled in June 2001 and left to mature for 12 years in a Fresh Port Hogshead before being bottled in November 2013 with an out-turn of only 300 bottles.

What I say

Thanks to Ben at BensWhisky.co.uk, a fervent Springbank supporter and member of the Springbank Society for sharing a sample of this fresh port hogshead matured 12 year old Springbank.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Copper amber (11/20) medium-large tears with medium-fine well defined legs
Nose: Dusty dunnage warehouse, musty, sweet, pink marshmallows, malty/yeasty (beer), cereal barley flour, golden syrup, toffee, butterscotch, fudge (rum & raisin!), thick cut strawberry jam on toasted brown bread.
Taste: Sweet and fluffy, pink marshmallows, some woody spices, tannic and malty, strawberry laces, fruity; cherry, raspberry, plum with chilli spice, cinnamon, aniseed balls, strawberry shortcake, rough/dirty engine oil/oily in places, red liqourice
Finish: Medium length, sweet, deep red fruits, malty and tannic oak wood with liquorice and aniseed

Overall

A little odd this expression, fluffy and pink but also strongly tannic and malty – somewhere in the middle of this transition this seems to come together and work wonderfully. A little chameleon of a dram this one!