Springbank 25 years

Springbank

Origin

Campbeltown (Scotland)

Type

Single Malt Whisky

Barrel

Bourbon and Sherry

Age

25 years

Alcohol

46°

Value

400 points

About the product

The Springbank 25yo is not an everyday whisky. It belongs to the standard range, but is released in limited batches each time. The 2024 edition thus comprised an edition of just 1,400 bottles worldwide. For its composition, a combination of both sherry and bourbon casks was used. About 65% of the whisky in your bottle matured in ex-sherry casks, while the remaining 35% spent its life in bourbon casks. The balance in flavour between those two barrel maturities is particularly well done.

A first sniff immediately yields captivating aromas: candy with cherry and mint and rich blood orange. Then further aromatic worlds open up with milk chocolate, stewed fruit and apple crumble. Tasting adds an extra dimension: initially earthy, oily and distinctly seductive, then subtle peat smoke makes its appearance in the background. Then the sherry casks do their work, with demerara sugar, strawberry candy, liquorice and walnuts. The finish confirms the experience of balance: gently spicy with an unexpected element of tarragon in the aftertaste, and a savoury piece of meat from the fine-crust counter.

This whisky is more than a drink, it is an experience.

About the brand

Springbank Distillery was founded in 1828 on the site where ancestor Archibald Mitchell was already using an illegal kettle at the time. It would grow over the years to become one of the most popular distilleries for whisky lovers. Springbank was also one of only two distilleries to survive the crash of the 1930s after Campbeltown's heyday as the capital of the whisky world in the late 19th century - more than 30 other distilleries had to close in Campbeltown during that period. Three different single malts are produced at Springbank. Hazelburn (made since 1997) is unturped and is distilled three times. Longrow is heavy-turfed and is distilled twice and finally Springbank itself is distilled 2.5 times and is medium-turfed.

Springbank's flagship is, of course, the single malt of the same name. Unique to the production process is the 2.5 times distillation. It is a complex process. There are three stills at Springbank. For Hazelburn, all three are used for 100% of the process. At Longrow, they only use two. For Springbank, after the first distillation, part of the low wines goes to the third kettle, another part to the second kettle; what is distilled in the second kettle then goes to the third kettle for a final distillation. Thus, one part is distilled three times, and one part twice, and from there comes to 2.5 times distilled. The process is more complicated than that, but this way you already have the basics of this unique single malt with you.

Springbank whisky has a base range of the 10yo, 15yo, 18yo, 21yo, 25yo and 30yo. Limited editions are released regularly, such as the 12yo at cask strength and the famous Local Barley range.