It seems like my buddy Erik ‘Elixir’ has become my trusted supplier of Springbank samples. Even though Tom van Engelen went to Campbeltown last month there were no shares from that distillery. There was a Cadenhead’s Islay bottling, so it’s partially forgiven.

Anyway, Springbank’s Open Day last year, during the Campbeltown Malts Festival saw the release of this Oloroso cask Longrow. Peat and Sherry from Campbeltown sounds like something I would enjoy, so the choice to get a sample when it was offered was quickly made.

Sniff:
The elevated ABV mutes the peat and smoke a little bit. It’s a sherry cask, but not an overly powerful one. The massive spirit stands up very well, with coastal salinity, the typical Campbeltown funkiness (funkytown?), and a hint of almonds.

Sip:
The palate is quite strong, more so than expected. Feisty with lots of coastal notes and a beach bonfire. Straw, marram grass, smoke and a slight flint note. There’s a hint of leather in the background too.

Swallow:
The finish keeps that bite, but there’s a bit of a pastry sweetness in the mix too. The sherry brings a little bit of dried fruit. Apricots and apples.

I always find it surprising that such young whisky can have such a layered palate and can seemingly be quite mature. Of course, with all the knowledge learned and applied over the last couple of decades in the distilling industry this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but this is more like the old fashioned version of that. Back when things were awesome after a decade. This one is no exception to that.

Lovely, slightly muted sherry notes. Coastal notes too. And of course the typical smokiness to round it all off. At € 100 for a 35cl bottle it’s not exactly cheap, but which whisky from Campbeltown is, nowadays…

88/100