Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is matured in a combination of 70% sherry and 30% bourbon casks. The latest batch n°10 was bottled at 53,2%.
Its malt is first dried over a peat fire and then over hot air.
Springbank 12 yo ‘Cask Strength’ (53,2%, OB 2014, Batch 10, ref. 14/532)
Nose: typical Springbank notes like leather and wet chalk, with some zesty grapefruit and brine. Hints of grass. Sharp lemon. Some medicinal notes and smoke. There is however a rounder side to it, a bit of vanilla and dried coconut flakes.
Mouth: surprisingly honeyed now. Sweet mint and pepper. Bags of lemon peel. After a while the grassy bitterness takes over and you get gingery notes and juniper. Liquorice and hints of pickle brine. The peat level seems a bit lower than in previous batches.
Finish: long, bittersweet, with ashes and a lemon / salt combo.
Springbank really masters this profile. I seemed to like this one more than other batches, maybe because the peat is less prominent. Around € 65.
Score: 86/100