Springbank 15 Year

Uncorked this one tonight for the first time and poured a lively russet liquid into my glass; the aroma took a while to lift from the glass but once it did, I smelled sour brininess, salted pecan, the inside of my Fossil messenger bag, and lighter notes of vanilla and plantains; it delivers a nice maritime feeling with the first taste, and along with more leather I taste smoked trout and leeks, sour cherries, frangipane, rooibos, and cinnamon candy—overall the mosaic palate of this dram reminds me of a sweet red onion jam; the mouthfeel is chewy and astringent, leading to a sherry stickiness; splendid cinnamon finish with an aftertaste full of malt, gentle peat, sea salt, and cough syrup; an involving, enveloping experience altogether that I look forward to exploring more! Update: I'm about halfway through this precious bottle, and — having mellowed out only slightly on the front end and being yet more voluptuous on the finish — I can say that this is my favorite single malt Scotch to date.