Springbank 1995 (WhiskyNerds)

When I recently wrote that Springbank is not always successful in selecting good sherry casks, I got a slightly worried message from one of the WhiskyNerds in Holland who had just sent me a sample of… a sherried Springbank. Of course we trust their selection skills when it comes to this distillery, so no need to worry.

It is a Springbank 1995 matured in a fresh sherry hogshead.

 

 

Springbank 1995 WhiskyNerdsSpringbank 23 yo 1995 (48%, WhiskyNerds 2018, fresh sherry hogshead #63, 243 btl.)

Nose: yay. Starts on a beautiful mixture of minty old wood, a slightly sour tobacco note and a bit of rancio. Gorgeous. Then fragrant fruits, like waxed orange skin, a hint of redcurrant and tangerines. Subtle lychee. Still gorgeous. Some leather. Whiffs of dusty books, which I find pleasant, and rapeseed oil. Cocoa and touches of metal polish too.

Mouth: somehow a fairly thin texture, but very flavoursome, both nutty and fruity (walnuts, mirabelles, sour cherries), always with this slightly nervous undertone of lemon and sour wood. Hints of gas and coal smoke in the background, giving it a bit of a pre-war whisky profile. Brass polish again. Soft briney notes (Manzanilla). Menthol and exotic woods, as well as a light hint of espresso.

Finish: long, very old-style, with sherry, sandalwood, the lightest smoke and resin.

Pretty amazing Springbank, which reflects bygone times in a way. Let’s hope there’s more of this. Around € 350 – quite a lot, but this is special.

Score: 93/100