It’s officially 2022 and I’ve decided to “Spring”bank into it with a series of samples. Continuing on my Springbank series, I have three different batches of the 12-year Cask Strength. Batch 17 comes from @ContemplativeFox and was matured in 70% ex-Sherry casks, 30% ex-Bourbon and bottled at 56.2%. The nose starts with light funk, toasted barley, dark chocolate covered raisins and dehydrated apricot followed by a smoldering campfire by the ocean that fades into the background of fruits of persimmons, charred tangerine and red grapefruit that transitions to candied ginger, light leather and moderate oak with high ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with light funk, toasted barley, dark chocolate covered raisins followed by a moderate peat smoke with light drying spice that slowly fades to fruits of apricots, charred tangerine and red grapefruit juice that transitions to ocean brine, light minerality, candied ginger, light leather and moderate oak with high ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with shortbread cookies, dark chocolate covered raisins, ocean brine, candied ginger, light leather and mild ashy oak. A very enjoyable dram with the sherry barrels front and center, but they play well with the traditional Springbank funk, fruit and smoke without overpowering or giving too much of a sulfur influence followed with the bourbon barrels adding some enjoyable creamy citrus notes. Final Score: 4.0 Batch 19 comes from @ctbeck11 and was matured in 65% ex-Bourbon casks, 35% ex-Sherry casks and bottled at 57.1%. The nose is big and rich starting with a mild funky butterscotch pudding and caramelized apples followed by light sherry then a soft and delicate pipe smoke that fades to the background of creamed corn, maraschino cherry, and sun baked salted orange that transitions to ocean sea waves crashing over seaside rocks and antique leather wrapped oak furniture with high ethanol burn. The taste is a rich creamy mouthfeel starting with a mild funky butterscotch pudding and caramelized apples followed dark chocolate raisins then a mild spice that quickly fades to soft and delicate pipe smoke, creamed corn, maraschino cherry, and orange creamsicle that transitions to ocean sea waves crashing over seaside rocks and antique leather wrapped oak furniture with high ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with orange creamsicle, dark chocolate covered raisins, shortbread cookies, light ocean brine, and antique leather armchair. Wow, this one is incredible! The flavors are bold, rich and creamy with a near perfect balance that can easily beat bottles that cost several times more than it. The bourbon influence really brought a lot to these with the sherry flavors adding additional complexity to slightly elevate it to near perfection without either overpowering those traditional Springbank funk, fruits and moderate peat smoke. Final Score: 4.75 Batch 21 was matured in 45% ex-Sherry, 25% ex-Bourbon, 25% ex-Burgundy, 5% ex-Port casks and bottled at 56.1%. The nose starts with bales of hay and dark cherry cordial followed by a moderate peat smoke with fruits of fresh picked strawberries, caramelized apples and Sunkist raisins then ocean sea waves crashing over seaside rocks, light leather and moderate oak with high ethanol burn. The taste is a viscous mouthfeel starting with big and bold orchard fruit followed by burnt bales of hay and dark chocolate cherry mocha followed by a moderate peat smoke and drying spice that then fades to fruits of fresh picked strawberries, caramelized apples and oatmeal raisin cookies then ocean sea waves crashing over seaside rocks, light leather and moderate oak with high ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with burning hay, a dark chocolate cherry mocha, ocean brine, cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookies, strawberry jam, leather and moderate oak. Overall, a great dram that manages to bring in citrus, dark berries, along with Springbank funk, moderate peat and minerality, but the balance seems off to me with a higher spice on the palate and finish overpowering some of the flavors. Side by side with the 10 year old, I like this one slightly more for its bolder flavors and red berry fruits, but I could easily prefer the 10 year on days I don’t want a high proof whisky and want an easy sipper instead. Final Score: 3.75 Conclusion: What a fun experience to try three different batches and compare them to each other. Springbank seems to keep you on your toes with these different batches and each one brought a unique spin to complement those traditional Springbank notes. Personally, I found that the high bourbon influence with a light sherry for additional complexity to be my Springbank match, but I can see how either one of the other batches could fit a person’s palate better. Overall score for all: 4.25