Springbank 1995 Spirits Shop Selection

Review by: Raygun

Bottled in 2019 for the 10th anniversary of the Whisky Live festival in Taiwan. Old Springbank is pricey stuff and this is no exception. However, it’s at least cheaper than the OB 21 and it’s cask strength, too. Split most of the bottle out with friends.

Distillery: Springbank

Bottler: Spirits Shop Selection

Region/style: Campbeltown single malt Scotch

ABV: 50.8%. Cask strength

Age: 23-24 years. Distilled in 1995. Bottled in 2019. 

Cask type: Rum barrel #284. 162 bottles.

Color: 0.8 deep gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Price: $750

Nose: Light on the Springbank character, though I get a touch of barnyard. Key lime pie, ocean air, grapefruit, and a bit of custard. Definite seaside vibe to this.    

Palate: Cookies, lime zest, and brown sugar. Nice rum influence to it; easy to believe it’s a full maturation. The citrus is very prominent: some grapefruit along with the lime. And guava, definitely. Fried plantains. Usually don’t find this kind of freshness in something 20+ years old. The oak is restrained. Has a custardy quality.     

Finish: Lime, grapefruit, guava, and a touch of grilled shrimp. Almond custard. An oily character that reminds me of avocado. The oak is again subdued.    

Conclusion: This benefitted from careful attention. I wasn’t too impressed with my first pour, but sitting down and taking my time with it was a different experience. The rum character comes out very well, and the freshness is very appealing. Decent complexity to it. It’s really a great combination of fresh, sweet, and savory. The only thing not to like about it is the price. 
Buy again? Very good, but not $750 good.

Final Score: 85

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
  • 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)

Published by Raygun

Unknown's avatar

I drank Scotch occasionally (mostly at family gatherings) for years, but started getting more interested after an introduction and tasting from a Scottish acquaintance. That led to buying my first bottle (Highland Park 12). Now 600+ spirits later, Scotch is still my first love, but I drink other whisky and dabble in brandy as well.

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