Are you also having trouble pinpointing Springbank these days? I seem to really like part of their releases (say Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins) and thoroughly dislike others (say Springbank C.V. and a few independent releases).
Here’s a Springbank 1998, part of the new series by Malts of Scotland.
Springbank 1998 (51,5%, Malts of Scotland 2012, sherry hogshead, MoS 12014, 212 btl.)
Springbank 1998 (51,5%, Malts of Scotland 2012, sherry hogshead, MoS 12014, 212 btl.)Nose: a modern Springbank nose (wet limestone, gravel, wax) coupled to thick blackberry jam, plums and blueberries. Toffee. A little moss, faint farmy notes as well. Flax. Leather. Slightly dirty (rubber and cooked asparagus). So and so.
Mouth: sweet and rather jammy again, mainly dark fruits. Forest fruit jam. Fig compote and caramelized sugar. Port syrup. Shares some similarities with wine finishes (I’ve said this before). Very sweet with some herbal hints and a bitter dryness towards the end. Wet gravel notes again and minerals. It’s mainly the wine talking I guess, the Springbank spirit is on a second level in my opinion.
Finish: long, still very sweet fading to drier notes.
A very whacky Springbank 1998 again, it’s heavily sherried but in a candied way rather than a dry way. Was this some kind of sugared cream sherry? Interesting but not entirely my taste, and the Springbank sharpness can’t find the right balance. The first time I rather liked it, the second time I poured it away. Around € 75.
Score: 80/100