Springbank 15 Year

Sweet, almost minty

The nose doesn't have a really distinct smell, but I do get sea-spray for sure. It smells moderately rich but we will see. The palate is very nice. There is a good balance of spice with a lot of fruity sweetness and plenty of sea. Some smoke is present but it is just enough to enhance the character a little bit. The real standout part here is the balance of cheery and orange blossom with a bit of richness that almost tastes like Dungeness crab. It isn't super strong and in-your-face but it is very tasty and balanced. The balance is exquisite and there is a good degree of complexity. The balance between sweet and dry is especially successful, reminding me a little bit of Glenfarclas. The balance is successful as it usually is for Springbank. In this case, the fruitiness is fairly surprising, but the salt is still there. It's good though honestly the 10 is more up my alley despite its relative youngness. This is a great drink. This is on the border between an 18 and a 19, but I left it at 18 because it isn't quite rich enough and the Dungeness crab element is a little weird.