Springbank 12 Years Old 2004 Refill Sherry Butt (57.1%, OB, Cage, 1 Bottle, 2017)

• Category: Campbeltown single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Springbank distillery
• Bottling: J & A Mitchell & Co Ltd
• ABV: 57.1%
• Cost: £60

What they say

Distilled 26th November 2004 and matured in a refill Sherry butt for 12 Years before a sample bottle was collected for the cage at Cadenhead’s Campbeltown store in 2017.

Bottled at Cask Strength 57.1% ABV

What I say

A slightly younger Springbank expression out of the cage next, matured in what many whiskyphiles see as the ideal cask type, the more subtler maturation of a refill sherry butt

Distilled in 2004 this Springbank distillate has been matured in a refill Sherry butt for 12 years.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Copper gold (8/20), medium, oily tears leave long fine legs
• Nose: Juicy raisins, rich dried fruits, prunes, dried cherries, malty, a touch floral and salty, engine oil and peat smoke in abundance
• Taste: Slightly different from the nose, more trail mix with a dried fruit and nut nature, the sprinkle of salt is here again, more raisins and prunes, malty, treacle and liquorice root, toasted almonds, a little bitter, struck matches, fireworks and a hint of a metallic tin/copper?, aniseed like, aniseed balls and Russian tarragon, with time a touch menthol, with all this herbality reminded me of Fishermen’s Friends.
• Finish: Long, smoky, dark dried fruits, crystal and toasted malt and mossy peat.

Overall

Bitter and peaty thanks to the moderated cask maturation but still a mouthful of juicy dried fruits in here that brings this dram to life. Even the more “off” notes, metallic, liqourice and aniseed sort of belonged in this dram. The sort of whisky I’d describe as putting hairs on your chest, quiet invigorating or energizing this one.

Score 86/100

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