Any excuse to taste Springbank, really. I was recently sent a sample of a Private Cask from a few years ago. Then I combed through my sample drawer to find a few other Springbank samples I still had left. And voilà, here’s a trio of Springbank reviews.

The Springbank 15 Years and Springbank 18 Years are staples, but with quite some batch variation. For example, the current 18-year-old (which was just released) is made from 100% bourbon casks. The 2022 edition I’m reviewing today includes 35% sherry casks. That makes a huge difference.

And then there’s the Private Cask, the last to be reviewed today. Springbank famously operated a cask programme in the 1990s and early 2000s. It’s hard to imagine in the current climate, but anyone interested could buy a cask from Springbank back then. (For your sake, I won’t mention the prices.)

Many of these Private Casks have since been bottled and enjoyed. But one cask is a lot to drink by yourself. The sample I was sent is from a Springbank 1992 27 Years, matured in refill bourbon hogshead #273 and bottled in 2020. The owner is now working with Whisky.Auction to sell the remaining bottles from his private cask.

Springbank 15 Years (46%, OB, 2022)

Nose: Undeniably sherry-forward. There’s touches of hazelnut praline, butter and milk chocolate, as well as some mocha, soy sauce and hessian. Oranges and tangerines add a welcome brightness. There’s just a light layer of wood smoke lingering in the background, and soft minerals are never far away.
Taste: Much more sherried even. Dark chocolate, coffee grounds and cherries, but its balanced. Somewhat dirty, but certainly no big off-notes. There’s sweetness, tobacco and more juicy red fruits. Just a tinge of diesel too. Nice.
Finish: Medium length. Slightly oaky, subtle spices and a touch of shoe polish.

Conclusion

A slightly dirty Springbank 15 Years, but one that’s mostly balanced and certainly very flavoursome. There’s a lot to like here!

8.8

Springbank 18 Years (46%, OB, 2022)

Nose: A pleasant sweetness alongside bright orange zest, tinned peaches, hints of bandages, some damp oak and a touch of dunnage floor. There’s also a whisper of chalk, wet pebbles and even ozone. Harmonious would be the right adjective here.
Taste: Hints of honey, heather and waxes, but also a slightly cloying sherry influence. There’s a light spiciness alongside wisps burlap, a touch of earthy peat and sticky red fruits.
Finish: Medium length. Somewhat dry, but also mineral and coastal.

Conclusion

An allround, really pleasant drinking experience. The sherry (despite it being ‘just’ 35% of the recipe) dominates the mouthfeel ever so slightly, which prevents it from reaching an even higher score.

8.9

springbank 1992 27 years 15 years 18 years review

Springbank 1992 27 Years (48.4%, OB, C#273)

Nose: Wonderfully first impression with all kinds of fruits and waxes. Some candied fruits, but also fresh fruits. Think tart apple with hints of citrus. A profound minerality is never far away. Touches of petrichor, beach pebbles and clay. Hints of chalk, pomelo and cantaloupe too, as well as olive oil and wet wool.
Taste: Very pure. Oily. Gentle orchard fruits with notes of candle wax, some beeswax, a sliver of seaweed and limestone. Also seawater, whisper of lemon pith and herbal touches. There’s a touch of tobacco leaves as well, accompanied by crushed mint leaves and just a tinge of medicinal peat.
Finish: Medium length. Briny and waxy, but with jammy fruits as well.

Conclusion

Exemplary Springbank. It's matured into something very elegant and composed, but never loses sight of its Springbank heritage.

9.1

Photos: Whisky.Auction