Earlier this week I received a box containing two samples of Springbank in the usual Master of Malt fashion. Waxed lids and rice paper labels and such. There was supposed to be a letter, but that was forgotten. Explanation followed a few days later.

I decided to taste them right off the bat. Springbank used to be one of my favorite distilleries, but there have been some releases with weird finishes that were below par. Shiraz, Madeira, Rum and other things that didn’t really fit my palate.

The Springbank Society releases have been slow coming the last few years too so my collection of Campbeltown whisky has been slowly decreasing from almost 20 bottles to only a few at the moment. Let’s see if these might change a few things!

Springbank 1993, Cask #482

Sniff:
Definetly Springbank, with minerally, salty flavours of liquorice and some wood influence. Bread crust, basalt, sand and sea water. A slight hint of aceton and a very crisp scent of what I can’t describe any other way than ‘winter air’.

Sip:
Sharp, but smooth in flavour. Sugary and sweeter than I expected. Almost something rummy like molasses. The salty notes hit later and the minerals are gone. Sweet honey liquorice.

Swallow:
The finish is smooth at first but has a flavour boost after a few seconds, just before it settles. Liquorice, sugary sweetness that wasn’t on the nose.

I still find their sample service the best available

Springbank 1993, Cask #129

Sniff:
The cask influence is abundantly clear and I would put my money on a sherry cask. Maybe refill. So sherry, dry and salty but not as minerally as the previous one. The sherry fruitiness is present but more bitter in the way of peals and peach and nectarine stones. It does get sweeter with hints of chocolate and a hint of mint.

Sip:
Sharp, dry, not too spicy and maybe a little thin. Quite some alcohol I’d say. Sherry, christmas cake, allspice, tropical fruit and a rather bitter fruit at that. Not too woody but again, becomes more sweet if you give it time.

Swallow:
The finish is bitter on my tongue, but sweeter on the other parts of my mouth and throat. Fruit and a light spiciness. Somewhat more wood than previously.

So, I’d put my money on these being a Bourbon cask and a Sherry cask. I like the sherry cask a lot, but I absolutely adore the bourbon cask! For some reason I consider it to be a quintessential Springbank with all flavours you would want.

Yesterday I received an explanatory email stating that one of the samples will be bottled by Master of Malt in the not too distant future. If it turns out to be the bourbon cask, I’m buying a bottle or two. Absolutely delicious!

Bottlings like these might just put Springbank back near the top of my list, if they just stay away from the freaky finishes…

I have no idea to the ABV, expected price, or anything else. I just hope Master of Malt keeps me in the loop as to when they’re released!

Full disclosure: Both samples were supplied by Master of Malt for reviewing.