Springbank’s Sherry series has been one of the most exciting limited releases in recent years, and with the fourth of five editions now in hand, I wanted to give the Fino 10-Year-Old the dedicated attention it deserves. Bottled in October 2025 at 55% with only 11,400 bottles produced, this expression spent six years in Fino sherry casks and four years in refill bourbon barrels.
Having loved the PX edition from 2022 and enjoyed the Amontillado from 2024, I was curious to see where the Fino would land in the lineup. The short answer: it might just be the most interesting of the bunch.
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What struck me immediately was how the Fino cask delivers something I rarely get from Springbank. Right off the hop, the nose opens with an almost champagne-like quality, something akin to nosing a Prosecco, with sweet green grape notes and a gorgeous salty caramel undertone. There is very little peat presence here, and only a touch of that signature Springbank funk.
On the palate, however, the distillery’s identity comes through. That funk creeps in at the finish alongside a grape syrup sweetness, white grape freshness, and a persistent salinity that ties everything together. The saltiness is the real story here, and I believe it comes from the nature of Fino sherry itself. Fino and Manzanilla sherries develop under a layer of flor, a film of yeast that sits atop the liquid during aging, and that biological process likely imparts the distinctive briny character that sets this bottling apart.
Tasting the Fino side by side with the Amontillado confirmed my instincts. The two expressions are clearly related, but the Fino offers something extra: more salt, more sweetness, more freshness, and a lighter touch of funk. The Amontillado remains a really nice whisky with a solid palate, but it lacks that additional dimension.
I scored the Fino an 89 and the Amontillado an 88. They are both amazing, but the Fino edges ahead for delivering a profile I simply do not encounter often from this distillery.
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Now, is this bottle worth the chase? If you are new to Springbank and this lands in your hands, you will probably love it. But I would never tell someone to lose their mind hunting these limited releases when the standard Springbank 10 remains one of the best entry points in all of Scotch whisky.
Secondary prices on the Sherry series are climbing, and the reality is that the core range still showcases what makes Campbeltown’s flagship distillery so special. That said, the Fino genuinely surprised me. Its briny, fresh character is unlike anything else in the series so far, and I am eager to revisit it in a few months to see how it evolves in the bottle.
With one edition left to go, Springbank has set the bar high. What do you think the final sherry style will be, and can it top the Fino?
To see my full tasting, check out my YouTube video.
