At a time when Springbank has become the Gamestop of whisky, securing this sample counts as a small victory amid the insanity that has consumed a hardly limited release of 15,000 bottles. As a whisky, it’s good. For Springbank, it’s just par for the course, and not my favorite in the series. The nose is a sweet and sour mix evocative of honeysuckle and buttered toast. Sour citrus mingles with malty biscuit flavors in the mouth alongside a tang akin to a melted strong Cheddar. The finish oscillates between vibrant oak spice and a sour hard candy. It’s prototypical Springbank in many regards, less cerebral than some of the earlier local barleys and sure to please anyone who actually opens their bottle. Although I generally lean to bourbon cask Springbank, I much preferred the sample of the Olorosso matured 2021 Local Barley that I tried alongside this. Sherry casks can often overwhelm the Springbank distillate, but when the balance is right the results are very satisfying. The 2021 hits the right spot, delivering a mix of walnut and umami flavors with a luscious mouthfeel. To paraphrase the meme stock investors, this one deserves to go to the moon.