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 the 18-year from the 2018 release. The nose starts with a light funk and combination of lemon, lime and prickly pear cactus followed by vanilla meringue, sun baked salted fruits of apple, pear and charred orange with a light smoke background before a wet cavernous minerality that fades to light barrel spices of ginger, suede and polished oak with light ethanol burn. The taste is a thin to medium mouthfeel starting with Italian lemon lime soda and prickly pear cactus candy followed by vanilla meringue, ocean brine, sun baked fruits of apple, pear and red grapefruit with a light smoke background before a wet cavernous minerality and mild spice that quickly fades to light barrel spices of ginger, suede and polished oak with light ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with sun baked fruits of apples, pears, grapefruit, vanilla cupcake, ocean brine, prickly pear cactus candy, light ash, suede and polished oak. This is light, easy sipping whisky that brings in an effervescent fruit drink citrus flavor along with that Springbank funky fruit with light smoke, cavernous minerality and light barrel spices that’s perfectly balanced without any flaws, but drinks thinner than the 15 year and the notes are lighter than I’d prefer. The 18 is still a very delicious whisky which I wish had a higher proof, but if I were to pick up a Springbank product today, I’d probably skip this one and pick up a Springbank 15, Hazelburn 13(2020) or a Longrow 18(2018).