Springbank 12yr Cask Strength (a mere 56.5%), Springbank is the oldest independent distillery in Scotland dating back to 1828. Also, Springbank are the only Distillery to malt 100% of their own barley for the entire range (hence why it’s so bloody hard to keep it on the shelf) in short, they like to keep things traditional. This release is a combination of 70% Sherry Cask and 30% Ex Bourbon cask, it’s pretty damn tasty. For me I get a huge amount rich chocolate on the nose with hints of hazel nuts and a tiny bit of bramble fruit, then on the palate big on the sherry straight off the bat then mellows down releasing notes of dates, sticky maraschino cherries with a lingering black pepper and a hint citrus. On the finish, mellow then the peat pipes up, lingering with a slight salty aniseed background. After adding a drop of water to bring down the abv, the citrus notes become more prominent but you do loose a bit of the viscosity but defiantly worth a try. All in all, a fantastic dram not for the faint hearted as its extremely complex, every time I go back to it I pick up I get different flavours (if I wrote them all id be here all night). If you manage to get hold of a bottle or even just a dram let it breath for 10-15 minuets, I’ll be drinking this again!