Whiskyland. Remember that name. It replaces Whisky Sponge as the cornerstone series in the Decadent Drinks portfolio. Another 100-part series and Chapter 1 is a first fill sherry Springbank 1998. Some of my favourites in the Whisky Sponge series were Springbank releases, so we have high hopes for this first bottling after the reset.
The Sponge series started in a slightly haphazard way, building upon satire. Angus thinks it’s important not to do the same thing forever, so he now expands this one character to an entire whisky land. The series will contain the very best whiskies coming from Decadent Drinks, always bottled in this bubble glass cognac style bottle, with new branded Decadent Drinks capsules.
Springbank 26 yo 1998 (56,8%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2024, first fill sherry butt, 550 btl.)
Nose: starts a bit heady, with brass polish, orange peels and sour tangerines, along with dried herbs and resin. Maybe a faint winey touch. Then darker dried fruits appear (prunes, raisins), as well as tobacco leaves, cedar wood and wet earth underneath. Subtle sooty and tarry notes. Hints of salty sea spray and old waxes too.
Mouth: any hesitation is now gone – this is brilliant. Proper old Oloroso, with carbon papers and some diesel-like notes, flints, leather and linseed oil. A nice hint of tangerine juice and lemon peels again. Then drops of mint essence, soot and brake fluid. Smoked meats. Some herbal extracts, along with beautiful tobacco until the very end. There’s a sharp edge to it, but if anything it emphasises the wild character of this distillery.
Finish: very long, oily and rich, with hints of herbal liqueurs, earthy smoke and leather. Hints of cracked pepper and some medicinal notes.
It took some time to convince me on the nose, but all that is easily forgotten on the palate. Angus told me he prefers this one over his 1999, but I’m not sure I agree. In any case, lovely Springbank whisky again, and a brilliant start of the new series. Chapter two will be a Bowmore, due to arrive in September. For now Chapter one is available from Decadent Drinks of course, or retailers such as TyndrumWhisky and Royal Mile Whiskies.