Whisky: Springbank 10 Year (2012), Sherry Wood 2022 Release

Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV: 55%

Cask: Refill Barrel (7Y), First Fill Spanish Oak PX Hogshead.

Age: 10 Years (Distilled July 2012, Bottled 7 October. 2022)

Nose: Big sherried notes of stewed fruits, chocolate, lacquered wood, spices, pepper, subtle roasted coffee and wispy smoke.

Palate: Full-bodied with big woody tannins, stewed fruit, coffee, lacquered wood, malty pastries, honey, roasty, spice market.

Finish: Long and drying with dark chocolate, lacquered wood, and vibrant spice.

Score: 6-7 (80)

Mental Image: Tempest of the Sherry Gods

Narrative & Notes: Rich and indulgent with big cask-driven stewed fruits, chocolate, and lacquered wood. Blood oranges and pomegranate syrup over shaved ice, the impression of a cool snack eaten while meandering through a spice market and open sacks of peppercorns, cloves, and freshly ground cinnamon. A touch of coffee and wispy smoke from tobacco pipe lingered in the background. Full-bodied with big wood tannins and a cask-driven profile similar to the aroma.  More coffee and lacquered wood developed early on while dried or stewed fruits and dense honey-soaked pastries lingered in the background. Drying with a touch of roasted tea leaves and barley toward the end, I kept waiting for more of the spicy undercurrent to come forward.  Water did the trick, bringing out more fruits and spice while taming some of the tannic woodiness. The finish was long and drying with dark chocolate, lacquered wood, and vibrant spice.

This was loaded with the big cask notes that appeal to many a modern whisky drinker. That big cask style is not to my taste, though, so fans of Springbank or sherry bombs will no doubt love some of the elements that I found less interesting or appealing. The casks were quality and loaded with flavor, but they pummeled the malt into submission so that it only appeared around the edges. I initially found the whisky too tannic and drying, never bitter despite the dark chocolate notes, but on subsequent revisits, those qualities felt less off-kilter and more balanced.

Overall, I understand why some people love this, so I am tempted to score it higher. However, sherry bombs are not my style, even if this one was above average.