Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength Batch 14

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

70% Sherry and 30% Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

In the spring of 2010, the very first Batch of Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength, aged entirely in sherry casks, arrived on the shelves of wine merchants. And now, eleven years later, we've reached the 21st batch. Needless to say, it has been a great success. This 14th Batch, bottled in 2017, is said to be the 5th to include bourbon casks in its blend. The number of bottles produced remains unknown.

Let's Taste It : 

Candied vanilla, coated in iodine and Guérande salt. Delicate, earthy, charred peat. Custard. Vanilla eclair, with icing of course. Coconut, papaya, passion fruit. Finally, the sherry shows its nose, but it took a long time. Quite vinous, grapey, blueberry and heather. Then the bourbon comes back, pastry cream, sea breeze with spray, finally a bit of stable, otherwise it wouldn't be Springbank. Lavender, honeysuckle. Gênoise. Icing sugar.
On the palate, the sweetness lingers, nuanced by a few spices that gradually take over. Toasted wood, charcoal, hazelnuts, beeswax. Finish in the same vein, more lemony, fairly long and explosive, sweet, a little earthy. Brown sugar.

 

In Short, 

It's obviously delicious, at a very reasonable price. The Batches are sometimes very different, the recent ones introducing the influence of wine casks (Burgundy and Port in particular). I'd be inclined to say that you should try them all, but as there are two a year, you have to choose. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood