Review: Springbank 12 Year Old 2003 Port Pipe Matured

Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky

Origin: Springbank Distillery

Bottling: J & A Mitchell & Company

ABV: 58.3%

Cost: £59.74 from Master of Malt [sold out]

springbank-12-year-old-2003-port-pipe-matured-whisky

What they say:

Distilled in 2003, a UK-exclusive single cask Springbank.

The whisky has been bottled at a cask strength of 58.3%, aged in a port pipe for 12 years, a rich single malt whisky with notes of dark chocolate, orange and coffee and is extremely limited with only 696 bottles available.

Distilled in 2003, this is a UK-exclusive single cask Springbank.

Nose:

Raisins, nuts, sultanas and liquorice.

Palate:

Raisins, figs, linseed oil and a touch of papaya.

Finish:

Peaty, with hints of marzipan, wood notes and spices developing through the long finish.

What I say:

Another Port-matured Springbank and also 12 years old but unlike the previously sampled Society Cask, this expression was matured in the much bigger & more traditional Port Pipe rather than a port-seasoned hogshead.

Colour:

Copper amber (11/20), medium tears, long medium legs

Nose:

Fruity and warmer (than the society cask), stewed plums in red wine or wine-poached pears, hints of nutmeg spice, dusty warehouse, toasted brown bread with strawberry and raspberry jam, orange & ginger marmalade, oaty and golden syrup flapjack, malt loaf

Taste:

Smooth and sweet, tannic oak wood, malty cereal barley, mixed red berry jam with wine and mulling spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, sherry trifle, quite Christmas-y, brown bread toast, cherry lips sweety, fresh ginger and star anise

Finish:

Medium length, sweeter and fruitier and also less smoky & dirty than the society cask

Overall:

Rich, fruity, tannic and malty – perfect!

Score: 84/100

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