Tastes

Although it is aged entirely in sherry casks, there is a strong briny peat that overrides any of the overt sweetness that usually accompanies such aging. This aged Springbank is still the down to earth, good product of a small Campbeltown distillery. The peat is unique -- not as overriding and dominant as with Laphroaig, Ardbeg or even Talisker. It's a different peat, tasting of fields of worked grains, mixed with astringent diesel and metallic notes. It is not an easy drink. It is not for the Scotch drinker trying to avoid a challenge. There is layer upon layer here, and a drinker can just picture the peating, the turning of the barley, the heat of the roasting floor when sipping a dram of this taste of Scotland. For anyone who has ever been to Scotland: this is a taste that somehow captures -- unromantically -- what it feels like to stand in a burn inhaling the heather and salt sea air in a single breath. This single malt delivers a challenge; with that challenge comes a reward. Much like its younger brother -- the twelve-year-old -- it is a delicious, unpretentious, and unapologetic dram. If you want a true taste of Scotland -- not the overly refined and tamed tastes of Macallan, not the overly cleansed tastes of any of the chill-filtered Scotch malts or blends -- then tip your Glencairn towards Campbeltown and enjoy the immersion into Springbank.

Nose for me was fruity, with heady sugar notes. On the palate I was struck by the buttery feel which was quite pleasant, folllowed quickly by light caramel mixed with honey. There was a very faint grassy note which made for a light, pleasant flavor. It finished back with a strong honey note, just pushing the point where it could have become cloyingly sweet. I did taste a good amount of dried fruit, but not nearly as much as the expert taster here. This made for a good, smooth, summer whisky.

This is simply a good Highland malt. Perhaps too simple.

I found this to be a tad boring. The notes of a good scotch are all there, and it drinks smooth, but at the same time the sweetness became cloying and distracting. I wanted it to be more balanced.

Good, straight forward Speyside. Tends to be sweet and light with cereal notes and grass. Vanilla is prominant. Smooth, warm weather drinking as a sipping whisky.

This is a good whisky for mixers where you want the whisky flavor to really stand out with sweet notes. This is perfect for an old fashioned. As a sipping whisky, you can taste the chocolate and coffee notes as well as the separate notes of bourbon and rye.