Springbank 15 Years Old 1999 Rum Cask

By Barry Bradford on July 9, 2016 • ( Leave a comment )

Springbank 15 Years Old 1999 (52.8%, Whiskybroker, Rum Cask #300, 87 Bottles, 2013)

Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky
Origin: Springbank Distillery
Bottling: Whiskybroker Cask No 300
ABV: 52.8%
Cost: £52.71

What they say

Former Rum Barrel Cask No 300

Distilled 8th October 1999, Bottled 28th October 2013, 87 bottles at 52.8%

Notes from Bens Whisky

Nose – Zesty lime, cut green apple, musky deodorant (men’s, bright, sweet and spicy), blonde wood. When I first opened the bottle this was pretty workaday but as ever, a couple of months later it’s showing its true potential. Bright, refreshing, complex and clean. Lovely stuff.
Body – Deep toffee, spicy and with good Springbank sulphur, loads of oil and character and malted barley. Tobacco and old shelves. Goodness me this is good.
Finish – Long, perhaps a little bitter, with chilli and coffee tones. Very long actually, engines and musky toffee right at the end, and then even, a little winey with Putty Rubber (took a while to dredge that out of the memory banks!).

What I say

Part of a pair of Springbank expressions bottled by Whiskybroker late 2014, this one was matured for 15 years in a former rum barrel. Many thanks to Ben @BensWhisky for sharing this with us.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Very pale gold/white wine (1/20) loose large tears with slow and oily medium legs
Nose: Gentle fruity; apple, pear, peach, grapefruit citrus, light biscuit malt, hint of dusty chalk, fresh grapefruit with salt and white pepper, hint of herbal lemongrass
Taste: Zesty orange and lemon peel & pith, tannic and leathery, astringent, spiced white pepper, apricot, peach, grapefruit, sour & bitter, dry woody oak/sawdust, a hint lactic, lemon barley sugars, a light caramel or toffee – like toffee sauce, salted
Finish: Medium, sweet & sour, caramel topped biscuits and grapefruit

Overall

This has a lovely polished toffee/spun sugar feel (i.e. the type that makes your teeth feel cleaner or polished after eating!), sour and salty this is quite nice and moreish.