Springbank 15-Year-Old official bottling; single malt Scotch whisky; 46% ABV / 92 Proof; Campbeltown region; 70cl; price ranges from $90-$130 in the U.S., and is generally lower in the U.K.
Yes, its basically the color of pish, but Im going to call it spun gold. Hows that? As for this whiskys consistency my glass, the beads it leaves are small after being rolled around, and the legs are thin. Thats actually a good thing. They run slowly down my glass, revealing fifteen long years of maturity, and perhaps a few more in some of the casks. Im going to dub these Annie Lennox legs (in the singers prime, back when I first visited her hometown of Aberdeen, which happens to be Scotlands third most populous city).
Typical wet wool Springbank character, which I adore, comes out to greet me like a rain-soaked tramp with the face of an angel. Never do I tire of such a sight! Also, theres soggy graham crackers (in a very good way), along with a touch of marine air, and then the sweet nothings kick in, thanks to a generous sherry influence. Im getting stone fruits like mango, peach, and nectarine, along with toffee. But wait, some industrial notes emerge, revealing wet limestone, antique car seat leather, aspirin, and paraffin.
Leather arrives first, evolving into the stone fruits, along with marzipan and toffee. As the spirit breathes a bit more, lovely hints of beeswax and vanilla cake icing emerge. On the back end of the palate, I detect a heavier marine influence than usual for a Springer Fifteen, along with a strong minerality that invites the caress of wet steel, the tang of steel wool, and a bit of tannic oakiness to nip at ones taste buds in a good way (walnut meats). A sense of old skool mustiness and fustiness in the bottle remind me of good ole dunnage warehouses, which tend to feel (and smell) a bit like man-made caves (not to be confused with man caves). The final death throes hang on stubbornly, not unlike Charlton Hestons fingers curled around his favorite rifle. The finish in my glass is not nearly as dry as that of a 2015 Fifteen-Year-Old that I tasted recently at a friends house. In fact, the creamery note in my Glencairn today seems to come out of nowhere, resting on my tongue like a spoonful of porridge and milk. I rather like this unapologetic 1980s-style vanishing act. Reminds me nostalgically of the way Scotland used to be (as perceived through the eyes, and the palate, of a visitor with Scottish heritage).
In more recently bottled 15 Year-Olds, I’ve tasted more of a citrus presence, but not here. The industrial notes in this 2013 bottling remind me a little of the Local Barley 16 Year Old. Batch 13/63 most likely made use of quite a few refill casks, along with the sherry.rnrnIndeed, the famous distillery character comes through loud and clear, along with just the right amount of sherry. At any rate, Springbank’s 15 Year Old bottle with a green “S” on the label has earned my green light.rnrnIf you can find a bottle for under $100, then buy it. Unfortunately, my home state of Oregon imposes the second highest tax on alcohol. Believe it or not, the Fifteen goes for a whopping $130.95 here, which is nothing less than highway robbery: “Stand and Deliver, Your Money or Your Life!”rnrnAs for my final impression of this horribly good single malt…well, just try to add a drop of water to my glass. Hey, man, take one step closer with that teaspoon in your hand, and you’ll draw back a stump. Say no more. This baby’s ideal just the way she comes (at forty-six percent ABV, straight out of said bottle).
