Springbank is working its way through a series of sherry cask matured whiskies. Each whisky is finished in a different cask type. In 2022 they released a 10 year old Pedro Ximénez version (which was less to my taste) and in 2023 this Palo Cortado version. The whisky spent six years in refill bourbon barrels and then another 4 years in fresh Palo Cortado hogsheads, made from Spanish oak.
When I tried samples of all the Springbank sherry cask series in 2021, this came out as the winner. In the coming years we can still expect the Amontillado, Fino and Manzanilla cask.
Springbank 10 yo – Palo Cortado Cask Matured (55%, OB 2023, Batch 23/182, 10.200 btl.)
Nose: a lot of red fruit sweetness. Strawberry jam, caramelized nuts and nougat, with some sharper cranberry juice and goji berry. Mossy hints in the background, as well as milk chocolate and a creamy, almost buttery hint. Then just a hint of tobacco leaves and mild minerals. Hardly any funk. Overall similar to an Oloroso version, but fruitier and more subtle.
Mouth: a fairly sharp attack – the texture is thinner than how I remembered it. The minerality seems bigger, with more smoke and tobacco too. Red fruits mingle with dried cranberries and cola sweets. Hints of graphite and a good dose of white pepper. Then macadamia nuts, orange oil, hints of red velvet cake and bike tires.
Finish: rather long, with cold coffee, caramel sweets and berries, as well as a light salty and gingery edge.
I love Palo Cortado and I think it works well alongside the whisky. It adds sweetness and fruitiness which pushes aside the classic Springbank character a little. The texture and complexity could have been better, but the balance is correct. Some retailers don’t shy away from asking € 450 now, but that’s not in line with the quality. I got a sample from deliawhisky.de