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

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.

Official tasting notes:

• 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.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: 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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