The first Campbeltown whisky in this year’s competition. Not too surprising with only a handful of brands coming from there. Couldn’t even say distilleries, because that would be one f-ed up hand!

Sniff:

Springbank 18

Crisp and minerally, which sets my mind in one direction straight away. There’s loads of apple, some white grapes and a hint of salt. Some white oak and charcoal on the back of all this.

Sip:
There’s a bit of oomph building up but it stays rather gentle. Barley cereal, with again, loads of apple. A bit of a greasy feel with vanilla and that hint of salt again.

Swallow:
The finish is medium long, with (no surprise) apple, baked apple, barley and minerals again. Maybe some basalt.

The crisp minerally thing with a hint of salt sends me towards Springbank, the apple would suggest Arran to me. In the end I opted for the Springbank Calvados cask, but in hindsight that was rather dumb. There’s no way this was over 50% ABV.

Experiencing the new 18 this way makes me regret Springbank’s direction. This is where the fairly bland 15 was a few years ago and the old, more sherried Springbank OBs seem a thing of the past. I also feel that the character of the distillery is changing a bit and everything is becoming a bit more mellow.

Let’s hope the special bottlings keep up the stunning quality of before, because OBs like this don’t do it for me.

Springbank 18, 46%, available at Master of Malt at € 94