Whisky: Springbank 8 Year (2012) for Spring Bank Society

Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV: 57.3%

Cask: Fresh Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads

Age: 8 Years (Distilled June 2012, Bottled 4 Jan. 2021)

Nose: Big and sherried, stone fruits, baking spices, slightly metallic, pool chemicals, new shoes, charred wood, pipe tobacco.

Palate: Full-bodied, big cask driven fruits and spices, youthful and spirited, tannic, stewed stone fruits, baking spices, tobacco and black pepper.

Finish: Medium to long with rich stewed fruits, spice, and a touch of pipe tobacco.

Score: 7 (82)

Mental Image: Shoe Store Backroom Snack Bin

Narrative & Notes: Big and powerfully sherried, on the aroma were stewed stone fruits, cinnamon, cloves, and anise sizzling in a giant pot. A metallic copper tinge hung in the background with swimming pool chemicals, leather and boxes of shoes at a shoe store, charred wood, and sweet pipe tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate with loud cask notes and some exuberant youthful spirited prickle and exuberance.  Tannic and weighty, gradually drying and a touch astringent with big stewed plums and stone fruits that shifted toward baking spices with ample cinnamon and clove. More tobacco and black pepper toward the end with some spicy spirit.  The finish was medium to long with rich stewed fruits, spice, and a touch of pipe tobacco.

A rather beastly whisky, this felt purpose-designed for the sherry fiends who walk among us— though I am sure Springbank fans found much to enjoy as well. A quick glance over at Whiskybase certainly indicates that was the case!  More than a couple of individuals recommended water, and I agree as water cooled some of the spirited prickle without washing out any flavors— though it did become a touch sweeter and lost some of the savory notes that lingered in the background.  The loss of those elements seemed a price worth paying for something that felt more complete if slightly less complex.

Overall, not really my kind of whisky, yet, I still enjoyed it well-enough to rank it above most big sherry drams.