Springbank 1991 (Whisky Agency)

I could not attend The Whisky Fair this year as I was in Spain visiting bodegas and tasting sherry… that’s bad timing indeed. As expected The Whisky Agency released a couple of interesting whiskies, two of them from the Springbank distillery.

The first one is this Springbank 1991 (classic style with low peating level), the other one is a peated 1993 which we’ll try later.

Springbank 27 yo 1991 (46,4%, The Whisky Agency 2018, hogshead)

Nose: quite warm and waxy, with less of the sharp minerals and more vanilla and dried flowers. There’s a big sweet / fruity side too, showing ripe peaches, rhubarb jam, a little guava and lychee. Hints of buttery tartlets, wax candles and sunflower oil.

Mouth: a similar warm fruitiness of apricots, guava and pineapple. This time also more wet gravel, waxy orange peel, hints of chalk and rosemary. Coconut oil. Light ginger.

Finish: medium long, on citrus peel, just a wee salty note and this warm, round vanilla / pastry touch.

Lovely. This is quite a bit rounder, fruitier and perhaps sexier than other Springers, with no austerity although there is still the typical mineral and waxy base. Around €485 – this will probably be hard to find anyway.

Score: 92/100