Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength

"Holy Cooooow!!!" as the late great Harry Carey used to say. Ok, this is a fun dram, if you don't mind to do some work. This is the 56.3 ABV version. When I poured it neat, I immediately got a ton of raisins on the nose without being near the glencairn. On a deeper nose, there are ginger snaps in there, with candied apples. On the palate, this is a HOT dram, even more so than the A'bundah, and having lower ABV. Without a mere teaspoon of water, I was getting a lemony taste, and on the finish. My ABV sweet spot is 48, so the water really helped me here. Slight peat with a ton of nice sherry. More light fruits and spice with a ton a of pepper. Comparable to a good Talisker. The finish is medium length with a touch of lemon, not off putting because it's met with graham crackers and spice, with a return of more grapes/raisins. I might enjoy the 10 just slightly more because the absence of citrus. Both are extremely good and worth your time.

6/17 TWM - awesome. Sour salty savory.