NC2 is an uncoloured and unchill-filtered series by Duncan Taylor, usually for younger / affordable whiskies bottled at 46%. Today we’re trying a new Springbank 1998. As far as I know, it was matured in a sherry cask.
Springbank 13 yo 1998
(46%, Duncan Taylor NC2 2011)
Springbank 13 yo 1998Nose: settles nicely on sweet, almost marmalade aromas (peach jam, oranges, plums, even strawberries) while also displaying a maritime character of salty seawater. Some apple and ginger. Hints of yeast. Simple but nice enough.
Mouth: curiously fruity. It’s a kind of a fruit compote but I have difficulty describing it. Orange syrup. Yellow raisins. Rhubarb jam? Overripe tangerine or figs? Melon sweets? Molasses? Many question marks but it’s actually quite enjoyable. Reminds me of certain Sauternes / Moscatel finishes. Again a salty / bitter twist and hints of sticky sweet toffee.
Finish: not too long, with the sweet fruits having the last word. Hints of ginger again with a faint bitterness.
Much sweeter and rounder than most recent official Springbanks. A sweet wine finish that’s in fact not a wine finish? Worth trying. Around € 60. Available from Whisky-Doris among others.
Score: 82/100