Springbank 15 Year

The Bottle: Springbank has recently changed the labeling on the majority of their bottles(with questionable results, if I'm honest), but this review is for the older style with the embossed lettering on the black label. Simple, classy, straight-forward. In The Glass: Picture light apple juice. On The Nose: Ahh Springbank, you sexy devil you. The nose on this does not disappoint. Sweet & salty, like eating candied almonds on a boat. Salt water taffy. Peanut confection. In the backdrop there is the typical Springbank "savory" thing that defines the 10 year-old, but it's more restrained here. Taste: A good follow-through from the nose. I am instantly reminded of when I was a kid and I saw a small circus display on a beach while chewing on a piece of caramel. The sweet & salt leads the way here with a strong nutty finish. I think that this would pair fantastically with food. This isn't a whisky that you need to have on it's own, this one was made to have with dinner...and then again with dessert. Despite spending 15 years in sherrywood, this isn't a Speyside bomb. If you're expecting Aberlour or even a Glendronach, you may want to reconsider :). The sherry here is the bass player, not the lead guitarist. This is distinct, nuanced and tasty. This is my favorite of the Springbank line, and possibly my favorite non-Islay single malt Scotch.

Light amber. Full body. Spicy on the nose and throat, last for quite a while. Bought a tasting 5cl at Cadenhead's in Edinburgh May 2017.

Nose is unremarkable (with allergies), first sip has a thick and somewhat oily feel, long finish, pleasant.

No. 2 whisky for the night in my new local whisky bar. Coming off the back of the Oban Little Bay this really made an impact. I liked it's 18 year old brother but I'm thinking this might actually be better. It's got that signature oily complex sherry vegetation flavour type mix. I was chatting to someone whilst drinking so couldn't pay close attention to the components (not that I'm good at separating them anyhow) but I do know a complex multifaceted dram when I taste one and this is it. It's 3 year older brother goes for an approx 2/3rds price premium in NZ ($80USD vs $140USD) and from memory I really don't see it as worth it. I'll have to get a bottle of this and compare to the unopened 18 year and double check. Update: 4 years later I finally got hold of a bottle. I LOVED the 2015 18 year version but sadly impossible to get at the moment in nz so plumbed for a bottle of the 15 year. Very glad i did as it's excellent. Definitely a 4.5. However after going through a bottle of each I'd say the 18 pips it. The edges are just a bit more rounded and everything is a bit tighter and slightly more integrated. Not to take anything away from the 15 though...fantastic dram..i drank the whole bottle in a couple of weeks! Round 3: A bottle of the 2020 release. I think SB is slightly going backwards or at least my taste buds are no longer as wowed. Another good release but more 4.25 territory I'm thinking. Same profile as previous.