Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength (Batch 17)

N: Smoke and leather, orchard fruit and stone fruit. Faint nuttiness, almond or walnut. Dried strawberries, occasionally. Maybe imagining it, but I feel like there's a bit of sea spray in there too. Overall effect is like watching a beach bonfire from afar - close enough to feel the smoke, but far enough away that the smoke doesn't overpower what's kicked up from the surf. P: Honey, white tea, and sweet orchard fruit hit first. That's promptly and rudely kicked out by a powerful cinnamon and anise spice finish that starts very early. Spice borders on capsaicin. Would like the softer flavors to stick around a bit longer. Salted caramel pops in and out through the spice on successive sips. Mouthfeel is big, oily and salty with some bitterness and a little tannic pucker. This is not the easiest whisky to drink. Gotta be patient and curious, and then really take your time with it. Feels like the kind of bottle you buy one out of each biannual release and then hold and drink slowly over time, when the mood is right, which is probably not very often.