10 October 2017 Ruben Springbank

Springbank 24 Years (TWE Art of Whisky)

Name: Springbank 24 Years (TWE Art of Whisky)
Brand: Springbank
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

Last week I reviewed the Clynelish 21 Years ‘Art of Whisky’ and Glenrothes 27 Years ‘Art of Whisky’ and said there would be a seventh undisclosed bottling in this series. This was revealed at The Whisky Show in London: a Springbank 24 Year Old.

Update: they’re now available from TWE.

Springbank 24 yo
(51,7%, Elixir Distillers 2017, 160 btl.)

Nose: a bit special, not a wham-bam Springbank. Quite waxy and greasy (aromatic candles, wax paper) with some lemon oil, leather and sour dough. Autumn leaves, classy hints of verveine. Rhubarb and crisp Granny Smith. Wet chalk and gingerbread underneath. After a while even a hint of cocoa. Rather delicate but excellent.

Mouth: earthy but with the same (restrained) hints of sherbety fruits. Apples, pink grapefruit, lime and even a hint of passion fruits. All wrapped in an oily, waxy film. Kumquats with light gingery touches. Liquorice. Mineral notes and a whiff of grassy tobacco smoke.

Finish: long, bright, waxy and zesty with floral notes and earthy spices.

Excellent stuff, the typical Springbank orchestra is there but the arrangement is quite unique. Recommended. I’m not sure how many bottles remain after the Whisky Show, but I was told they would come online today (together with the other Art of Whisky bottlings). Around € 250.

Score: 91/100

10Comments

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1

Gal(WhiskyIsrael) on 10 October 2017 at 09:27

Lovely stuff, but as surprisng as it might sound, i prefered the 21 Clynelish over this. sopmething in the nose was a bit off for me at least…
i guess others would love it tho
2

WhiskyNotes on 10 October 2017 at 10:14

Both are very good, but I think the Clynelish was a profile that I have had many times before.
3

Gal(WhiskyIsrael) on 10 October 2017 at 10:16

sure thing. but that can’t be bad? if something’s excellent but not ‘new’ it’s still excellent, right?
4

Tony on 11 October 2017 at 10:14

Both were great, the pick of the show bottles. I slightly preferred the Clynelish (and it was half the price), but picked up a bottle of both! 1989 Irish Single Malt was even better mind you (joint TWE/TWA bottling, haven’t seen it on the website yet). Then again, that is definitely a profile you will have had many times before…
5

WhiskyNotes on 11 October 2017 at 10:21

Agree Tony, in terms of value of money the Clynelish definitely wins.

The Irish 1989 was released on the website before The Whisky Show. I grabbed a bottle, but it’s now sold out. I haven’t tried it, but I trust TWA and the general quality of these casks.
6

Tony on 12 October 2017 at 01:19

you’re right – I only saw the 1990, which is still available. Interestingly, the 1989 is a 26 year old bottled in 2015, so someone has held onto it for two years before releasing.
7

WhiskyNotes on 12 October 2017 at 08:42

I just realized I bought the 1990, my bad. Did you get the ABV of the 1989 by any chance?
8

Tony on 12 October 2017 at 10:02

46.9%. See link: https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/32390/irish-single-malt-1989-26-year-old-the-whisky-agency
9

WhiskyNotes on 12 October 2017 at 10:17

Sounds like part of this barrel?
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/75629/irish-single-malt-whiskey-1989-twa
10

Tony on 12 October 2017 at 10:25

Very much. Fortunately I didn’t have one of the earlier ones! Although they were a lot cheaper…

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