Review by: Whiskery Turnip

---

Distillery: Springbank.

Bottler: Whiskykanzler.

Region: Scotland/Campbeltown Single Malt.

ABV: 57.1%. Cask Strength.

Age: 13 Years. Distilled on 8 Oct. 1999. Bottled on 22 May 2013.

Cask type: Rum Barrel

---

Nose: Tropical citrus and fruit curd with cream, salt, vanilla, annatto, and wispy tobacco smoke.

Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, maritime with citrus, driftwood, wispy tobacco smoke, subtle earth and metallic notions.

Finish: Medium-length with citrus, pepper, salt, and wood.

---

Mental Image: Magnum PI on Beach Patrol.

Conclusion: With the aroma, I felt like I had stumbled into Waikiki beach circa the 1980s— cigarette smoke lingered in the air with a hint of menthol and something danker.  Old wood and hot plastic sat behind big notes of tropical citrus and bright fruit curd— passion fruit and mango— which was piped inside fried pastries or served alongside creamy custard and ice cream.  Vanilla and floral annatto sometimes appeared with a deep vein of beachy brine.  Medium-bodied and oily, maritime brine and citrus arrived with driftwood, rusted iron, tobacco smoke, and musty earth in the background.  Salty sea breezes and citrusy margaritas promised a party, though an undercurrent of old dried-out wood, metallic rusted iron, and old synthetic fabrics whispered that the good old days were long gone.  Tobacco smoke, driftwood, and dank earth with desiccated palm debris lingered in the background with more subtle lime or yuzu citrus.  The finish was medium-length with citrus, pepper, salt, and wood.

A beautiful coastal affair, this occasionally felt more like a Longmorn than a Springbank with an elevated phenolic tickle and constant wispy smoke trails. The rum cask was present, lending the citrus a tropical twist but never quite rising out of the background in a noticeable way.  I assume this was a fairly mild rum, as it felt nothing like some of the more intense rum maturations I have encountered.

Overall, a real delight with a certain old-school vibe— though more aesthetic than flavor.

Final Score: 83.

---

Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.