Yes, this review is late, but I sometimes feel it’s useless to post Local Barley reviews. They are sold out seconds after they appear online. Many of them are snatched by flippers but at least the whiskies have some real substance.
This is the third release in the renewed Local Barley series. It was distilled from Belgravia barley grown 6 kilometers away from the distillery at the West Back Farm. It’s a slightly more modern and more popular grain compared to the previous editions.
For this 10 year-old, Springbank used 70% bourbon and 30% sherry casks.
Springbank 10 yo 2007 ‘Local Barley’ (57,3%, OB 2017, 9000 btl.)
Springbank 10 yo 2007 ‘Local Barley’ (57,3%, OB 2017, 9000 btl.)Nose: sweet and rather fruity, mainly on sweet lemon notes, berries and pineapples. Honey. Vanilla ice cream. Slightly waxy but not much of the oily minerality of other Springers. The lightest hint of smoke. Less typically Springbank perhaps, but still very appealing.
Mouth: slightly more old-style now. The minerals are more obvious, hints of citrus green tea, paraffin and hints of peat. Bittersweet oak spices, zesty notes, lemongrass. Hints of cumin and cardamom. Mint.
Finish: long, on spices, earthy notes and salted nuts.
On the nose I thought it was a tad too easy-going, but the palate makes up for it, showing intense minerals and a nice balance. Not up to the first one though, which makes me wonder why they go backwards in age? Around € 110, sold out everywhere but you can still buy a sample.
Score: 87/100