Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Springbank.
Bottler: Whisky Sponge.
Region: Scotland/Campbeltown Single Malt.
ABV: 51.1%. Cask Strength.
Age: 26 Years. Distilled in 1995. Bottled in 2022.
Cask type: Refill Hogshead.
Nose: Soft coastal salt with wispy distant smoke, dried grass and heather, herbal with wild mint and camphor, paper, soft citrusy fruits with lemon and pineapple
Palate: Medium-bodied and lively, sparkling tropical acidity and citrus, maritime brine and mellow metallic bite with subtle wispy smoke, dried grass, buttery pastries, old papers and paperbacks, waxy at times with more orange and anise.
Finish: Long and lingering with wispy tobacco smoke, beachy salt, paper, and dried vegetation.
Mental Image: Summer 2007.
Conclusion: Memories of one summer nearly two decades ago— memories that feel distant, yet close at hand— with the angsty lyrics of Linkin Park on my iPod, I carried a borrowed copy of the Harry Potter series down to the beach any time I had a day off. The bright coastal brine and the sweet mineral scent of sun-baked sand brought those familiar days to mind with notions of those paperbacks and muddled herbs in a citrusy lemonade. Pineapple and tropical fruits joined in for a bright Italian soda or pushed toward a buttery tropical fruit pound cake. Dried grass and herbal notions of wild mint, camphor, and dried beach debris carried the wispy scent of a distant barbecue or bonfire. Medium-bodied and lively on the palate, the flavor profile was much the same, with summer memories spilling across the palate, joined by a mellow waxiness and more orange with hints of anise. The finish was long with wispy tobacco smoke, beachy salt, paper, and dried vegetation.
The summer of 2007 was epic; I had graduated from college and had no idea what I would do next. I spent long days working and my days off walking to a beach park to relax and read. The summer did not end on a high note, and while there are things I wish I could change, that brief period radically altered my direction in life in ways that would not be clear for another decade.
This whisky took me back to those formative moments when I was carefree in a way I find difficult to imagine now. The herbal quality on the nose and palate, the wispy smoke, and the bright citrus all bring back a feeling of certainty— that I have a home to return to and that things will always work out. I do not know how to describe that feeling, but one of the things I love about whisky and food is the ability to find those long-lost emotions and memories, whether we can convey them or not. I thought this was an extraordinary whisky, and there is no doubt nostalgia played a role.
Overall, cheers for Proust.
Final Score: 90.
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.
Malt Runners 