Springbank 25 Year (2018) Review

Photo courtesy of a Google image search because my picture has been lost to an old phone.

Only 1200 bottles of this Oloroso casked release exist, it is a very rare treat.

I can honestly say that it is one of the most complex and layered whiskies I’ve ever tasted.

Initially the nose is a lot more phenolic than you would ever expect from a whisky of its age, but that dissipates quickly and leads to aromas of damp smoldering wood on a campfire, well worn leather, old library books, heavily baked and then smoked Macintosh and Granny Smith apples, marzipan, and an ever so faint whiff of spice. The palate is much the same. Campfire ash, baked orchard fruit, smoked fruit, earth, leather, almond paste, and more layers of wood smoke. The finish is predominantly smoke and spice with a hint of baked fruit.

This is the kind of whisky that to do it right the glass should take you about two hours to work your way through. It is constantly evolving in the glass and deserves to be allowed to do so. Springbank continues to be one of the most impressive distilleries in the world. Springbank 25 is without a doubt a once-in-a-lifetime must-have experience.

This was not a completely objective review as it was not done blind. I was aware of what I was drinking at the time of drinking it.