Springbank, Oloroso Sherry Butt, 12 year old, 51.5%, $113
Full sherry impact, but the Springbank character does manage to fight its way through it. Thick, sweet notes of toffee and molasses are accentuated by dark raisin, golden raisin, prune, date nut cake, and fruit gum drops. Nutty, briny, rhum agricole finish. A Springbank for sherry lovers. (From a single cask, 591 bottles, exclusively for the U.S.)
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 86
I used to be zoned out by all these “this-cask-that-cask” cask-strength Springbanks. But eventually I realized that every once and a while one comes a long that I really like. For me it was the madeira (full term, not finish), but for someone else it might be this one.
What I’d really like to see in this series, though, is a bourbon cask. Even their standard 10 yo cask strength has a good dose of sherry. I think the Springbank character would be cool all on its own– no fortified/desert wine or rum needed.
I agree Red – I purchased the Rum Cask in 2001 and the Madeira this year but would like to see this as a series with ratings
Hi Red,
I think the bourbon cask from 2004 (distilled in 1991) is still available in Europe. Some shops ship to everywehere if asked. It goes for about 70 euros. Pretty decent dram.
And I agree on the finishes part. The regular casks are pretty good in its own, without all the horns and whistles of finishes.
The bourbon is the best of these I’ve had. Tried the sherry under review and found the distillery character too buried in sherry for my taste.
It is a bit heavy on the sherry.
Gahhhh! States only!
I’ll have to slum it with my 9-Year Marsala and 11-Year Madeira. Boo, Hoo…
Personally, I love the Madeira, Luke– Even though it’s no pleasure cruise. What’s the Marsala like?
Red,
The 9-Year Marsala is similar to the Madeira but more aggressive; a little on the feinty side but with a lovely fruity-sweet flavour that compliments the more rugged notes. As with all cask strength Springbanks water is mandatory.
As you said; “no pleasure cruise”, more “whitewater rapids”. But you’ll be happy you made the trip!
Springbank…always a little hit and miss.
John, are you going to review the other 3 in this series (fino, cream, and amotillado)? I am especially interested in the fino and amontillado (sp?) As I think they would go better with the springbank profile. Thanks.
Hopefully. This is the newest of the releases.
John,
Thanks for posting this review. I’ve been waiting impatiently for your impression of a sherried Springer.
As a fan of sherried whiskeys in general and of Springbank in particular, this sounds right up my alley.
Do you feel this bottle is an example of their ‘ever-increasing’ quality?
They’re getting there…
Anyone try the Claret finish? I should have that in the next week or two.
I need to ask my go to guy about that one, BJ– you do live in the US right? I generally really like bordeaux finishes.
Yes, I got my bottle from Royal Mile Whisky but I have not tried it yet – Should be with me soon.
I am very excited to be selling these single cask Springers at Pearson’s Wine of Atlanta. One of my clients is going to open all four one evening next week. I’ll drop a note on the tastings if anyone is interested
Larry
i really enjoyed the 11 year old madeira cask and so ordered a bottle of the 12 year old cream sherry cask (from the wine and cheese place in st. louis). it arrived today. looking forward to trying it after dinner.
can anyone who’s tried both comment on how different the oloroso edition is from the cream sherry edition?
i like the latter fine, but it’s nothing amazing; after trying it three times i’m not sure i would buy it again. sweeter and richer on the nose than it is on the palate where i can really taste the wood. alternately bitter and sweet on the finish, which is pretty long, and there seems to be a spicy tinge to the finish, almost clovey–but this may be something that’s going on with my palate right now, as i detected that on the an cnoc 12 as well last night. i’d rate this in the low-mid 80s, whereas i’d rate the madeira cask in the high 80s. it’s pleasant, enjoyable, but not particularly distinctive in my opinion. i might have a different opinion on a winter night, so i’ll withhold final judgement.