The 2010 bottling of Springbank 12 Cask Strength is the one to replace the old 100 proof. Their stocks are finally up enough to get rid of the No-Age-Stated standard cask strength bottling, which is a good thing. At least them having enough stocks is a good thing.

The previous company I worked at moved office about a year ago and from some customers the office warming gift was a bottle of Scotch. Apparently they read something in the Christmas gifts and annual whisky tasting we hosted. Right they were.

Nose:
A little thin at first, watery, but then the barley, flour and saltiness come through. There is an undertone of overripe fruit with a hint of crisp coconut.

Taste:
Spicy and dry, but gets a bit sweeter after a few seconds of ‘swimming’. Again barley and salty with an addition of wood. More noticeable cask influence.

Finish:
A medium finish but not very exciting. Not many additions to the already known flavours. Peppery in my throat and slightly sweet everywhere else.

A nice dram, and a nice addition to the core range of Springbanks. It doesn’t really excite me all that much, especially after I’ve tasted the regular 10 year old and the other core bottlings (15, 18, CV and so on). I’ve got the feeling this one reflects on the last couple of years of Springbank before they started rereleasing them. It’s like the previous (beige label) Springbank 10, on steroids. And that one isn’t too great.

Springbank 12 CS, 55.3%, about € 45 at Master of Malt.