This Springbank was distilled in 1985 and bottled in 1996 for the Dovr-Toutes-Mares series, a collection of 7 single malts, all labelled with antique cartography. There are two 1985 vintages from Springbank in the series.

Springbank distillery has been owned and operated by the Mitchell family in Campbeltown since 1837, and it one of Scotland's most revered distilleries. Following a brief mothballing between 1979 and 1987, upon the reopening the decision was taken to cease all sales to the blending industry and focus on its single malt sales. Today it is one of the only distilleries to malt, distil, bottle and mature whisky on the same site, and produces three distinct and highly prized single malts.

Bottle 0,002 of 1,100 drawn from sherry casks #40/1, #40/2, #40/3 and #40/4.

Colour: dark amber. Nose: a much drier, more phenolic profile although the sherry’s just as big as in both the Alchemist and the Kingsbury. Rocks, coal, gunpowder, a lot of new leather (brand new perfecto – not at my age anymore ;-)), soot and something metallic, while raw barley is never too far despite the heavy sherry. With water: very, very, and I mean very funny, with notes of liquorice allsorts, marshmallows, blood oranges and pomegranate – and probably many other funny sweet things. Baked ham and pineapple? Mouth (neat): we’re somewhere between the Alchemist (with its chemical side) and the Kingsbury (with its hyper-extractive side). In short, this is another monster. A lot of pepper too, cough, cough… Bitter oranges, strong tea, leather, menthol, raisins… You almost need a spoon, such is this baby’s thickness. With water: the chemical side grows bolder – no good. Swims like the engine of a ’76 Corvette (while we’re into crappy car analogies). Finish: no thanks. Quite chemical. Comments: a true rollercoaster of a young Springbank, with very high peaks and low bottoms. So to speak.

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