Tastes

This is a hard one to rate. Well crafted, well balanced...but man that spearmint I really don't like. To be fair it's the best example of a heavy spearmint flavored whiskey I've tried and I actually finished the sample. I wouldn't be running back for 2nds though. Quite polar opposite to the rye profile I like..spicy rye no mint of any kind. 4 for quality 2.75 flavor. 3.5 for fairness.

I love the 15 year which at $85 USD here in NZ I think is the best VFM springbank. The 18 year at $120 is the runner up. The 21 year is bonkers though at more than $200USD. So when I saw a sample of the discontinued 25 year for $30 I thought yeah I'll have a crack. So was it worth it? A yes.... for the experience. It's a great drop, not much port coming through, definite orange peel, tobacco and pepper as the MoM reviewed, lovely on the mid palate but aftertaste is short. I personally prefer the more in your face rougher 15 year especially for the price. It's interesting that often with my favorite distilleries and the peated stuff e.g. Laphroaig, Talisker, Caol Ila, Ardbeg and now Springbank I find the oldest stuff good but not better than the middle aged brethren. It's almost like a bell curve for me when it comes to preference with 15 to 18 years or a blend of older and younger being the sweet spot especially once VFM is factored in. Still the longer I linger on this one I think it'd be nice to work through a bottle but no way I'd pay the price! It is as the previous review mentioned missing the Springbank 'funk' I like.

The more I drink whiskey the more I firmly believe for a newly opened bottle or sample you really need to let it sit for a while and see the difference a few drops of water makes. Doesn't always make a difference but often you find it really opens a dram and brings it up a few notches. This is one such experience, the slightly off wooden notes faded and the lovely fruity flavours, lychee etc came to the fore. Lovely drop but wouldn't pay the asking price for a full bottle that's for sure! Batch 1 I had... judging on past GF results subsequent batches will be a step down in quality.

Mildly preferable to the rye but still pretty average. Younger, slightly rougher and nothing complex going on. Really not sure how this distillery won awards...

The Bladnoch's I've had to date have been average - Samsara and a G&M - so I thought I'd step it up and grab a sample of this to once and for all see if it was a distillery worth continuing with. This one definitely hits the spot; prunes, plums, blackberry, jammy fruits, strawberry with a nice balance of old leather, tobacco... nice. Wouldn't say it's worth the $250USD purchase price but worth a try if you see it around at a reasonable price. 4 to 4.25.

The first in the Reservoir series for me. Apparently they use 5 gallon casks which is interesting. Doesn't taste like it's been over done or turbo charged to much on the casking however. I wouldn't say I'd be reaching for a 2nd helping but it's a well crafted dram. Cherry, vanilla, leather, prunes and a healthy dose of spice and oak with a bit of a drying bite even with liberal drops of water. Not cheap at $100 USD. Definitely better ryes for under half the price out there.

It has been a while since I've had a dram so my taste buds aren't that all tuned in to bourban. I wouldn't say this one wows me. Very sweet... mild oak, vanilla and turpintine are the predominant flavours. There is a lot better out there.

PBM is on the money with notes of pears, apricots and honey. To add there is a slight caramel candyfloss thing going on as well, notes of white dry reisling. Slight ethanolly edge detracts slightly. Good value for the price.