Review: Springbank 15 Years Old

• Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Springbank Distillery
• Bottling: J & A Mitchell & Company
• ABV: 46%
• Cost: £65.02

What they say

Springbank 15 year old

Like a storm gathering off the Kintyre coast, our 15-year-old Springbank is dark and ominous, yet delicious. Best enjoyed after dinner or with your favourite cigar, this is a true classic.

Official tasting notes:

What I say

We last reviewed Springbank 15 Years Old back in 2013, however Springbank produce even their staple expressions in reasonably small batches due to the maximum size of their marrying tun. This latest batch bottled late 2015 was touted as being particularly good and so having just finished our bottled early 2013 batch I thought it was about time we sampled another batch for comparison.

My tasting notes:

• Colour: Ruby amber gold (12/20) large quick droplet tears & quick medium legs
• Nose: Spiced dried fruits, malt loaf, fruit cake, gingerbread, dirty and oily, gentle peat smoke, salted caramel, raisin, fig, molasses, dates, crème brulee, rum & raisin ice cream, orange & ginger marmalade on toasted brown bread
• Taste: Smooth and oily on the palate, gentle dried fruits build in intensity, a hint of spiced cinnamon, leather sandals, oak wood, malt loaf, borwn bread, red fruits, redcurrant jelly, plum sauce and powdered cinnamon donuts
• Finish: Medium-long, drying and tannic with dried leather and cinnamon powder

Overall

This 15 year old batch from Springbank was impressive as usual but much drier and more tannic than I remember from the 2013 batch, a lovely presentation of powdered cinnamon but maybe lacking in the deep dark chocolate which we love so much.

Score 85/100

Shop for Springbank 15 Years Old (opens Master of Malt)

Don’t take my word for it:

TOModera’s Whisky Reviews Springbank 15

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