Scottish Whisky

Springbank 12 yr Cask Strength Batch 15 (August 2017)

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Springbank 12 yr Cask Strength
Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Batch 15 – August 2017

56.5% ABV
$100-$120
Website
Springbank 12yr Cask Strength

What the Distillery Says

Our 12-year-old edition, always bottled at cask strength, is a wonderfully balanced dram that boasts a smooth buttery body and rich fruity palate. Add a drop of water to release milk chocolate and vanilla notes.

Our latest release*, bottled in January 2017, is 54.2% and the tasting notes are:

Nose: It’s reminiscent of walking in an autumn forest full of pine and chestnut trees, before returning home to the iodine of a Campbeltown malt and ending with a delicate hint of peat.
Palate: A gorgeous richness on the palate which is balanced between citrus marmalade on toast and caramelised toasted marshmallows, not forgetting flavours of vanilla and pepper. It’s a lip licking meaty dram.
Finish: A delicious, viscous, smooth liquid with a salty edge. It brings back memories of a ham joint which has been marinated in a rich honey sauce and slow baked in the oven.

*This content was listed in August 2020 (and there have been multiple releases since). As luck would have it, this refers to batch 14 which is 70% sherry/30% bourbon cask matured – the same as batch 15.

Special shout out to Ben’s Whisky Blog and The Washback for detailing out the Springbank 12 yr Cask Strength batch differences!

 

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, sherry, dark fruits, heather, oak, floral, clove, thyme, leather.
Palate:  Rich and thick, dark fruits, balsamic, dark chocolate with berries, toffee, vanilla, caramel, honey and clove.
Finish:  Long and slightly drying with sherry, wisps of smoke and pepper spice.
Comments:  This is a lovely, complex dram! Rich, savory and sweet. A bit of water opens it up even more. I’m not sure why I had waited this long to buy a bottle of this. Other folks in the whisk(e)y circles I’m in have been Springbank fans for years. I had enjoyed it, but I think hadn’t appreciated it as much before (possibly due to those tastes being mixed amongst a LOT of other drams!) I managed to pick this bottle up in August 2020 for $90, which is below the current retail – but even at the latest prices, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. There is batch to batch variation, as Springbank isn’t shooting for a consistent profile every time – and at least on this batch they didn’t provide any indication as to the batch. You can check sources for details using the ABV.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

43% ABV
$53-$60
Website
Macallan Double Cask 12 Yr Old

What the Distillery Says

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old forms part of our Double Cask range which marries the classic Macallan style and the unmistakable sweetness of American oak. This is a fully rounded single malt in perfect balance, with flavors of honey, citrus and ginger.

The perfect partnership of Oloroso sherry seasoned American and European oak casks creates the distinctive, warm character of this harmonious single malt. Our skilled whisky making team optimize the right mix of European and American sherry seasoned oak casks to allow the delicate and indulgent flavors of American oak to take centre stage while the more traditional Macallan characteristics of rich fruits, sherry and wood spice provide a reassuringly familiar backdrop.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Harvest sun.
NOSE: Creamy butterscotch with a hint of toffee apple, candied orange, vanilla custard and newly felled oak.
PALATE: Deliciously honeyed, wood spices and citrus, balanced with raisins and caramel.
FINISH: Oak lingers, warm, sweet and drying.

What Gary Says

Nose: Lovely sherry with raisins, dates, plums, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, bit of orange, oak, toffee, hazelnuts, a hint of leather.
Palate:  Sweet honey with raisins, oranges, nutmeg, vanilla sponge cake with caramel cremes.
Finish:  Moderate in length, damp with orange honey, figs and a bit of pepper.
Comments:  Very nice dram – less sherry intensive than Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak, with more honey and a touch of vanilla. The nose on this has a load of complexity, more so than the palate – which is nice enough. The first time I tried this, I thought it stood out, but each time I’ve sampled it I have liked it more.  If you’re a fan of the standard Macallan 12, I think you definitely should give this a try – roughly the same bank and an interesting offering.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Compass Box Phenomenology

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Phenomenology
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$170-$180
Website
Compass Box Phenomenology

What the Blender Says

‘Phenomenology’ – Noun. An approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience.

Phenomenology and whisky. What, you may wonder, is the connection?

We’d long been working on a blend of single malts that combines seemingly dissonant flavour profiles, but together creates something compelling.

We landed on a recipe that elicited a surprising range of reactions and descriptions, each person taking away something different from the whisky.

Bottled at 46% | Not chill-filtered | Natural colour | Lead Whiskymaker: John Glaser

Rather than referring to our tasting notes and description of the aromas and flavours of this whisky, we invite you to first experience it for yourself without preconception. Describe the ‘phenomena’ of this whisky yourself, in your own words and ideas. Your experience is your own, personal, subjective experience. Relish it.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: Aromas and flavours reminiscent of berry fruits, baked apples and hints of banana, with a delicate peaty smokiness that follows and resonates in the long finish.

AVAILABILITY: Limited Edition release of 7,908 bottles worldwide. Bottled September 2017.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is an ideal whisky for sipping and contemplating on its own, or with a splash of water or an ice cube, which will reveal the subtle complexity of the whisky as the whisky very slowly dilutes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and bright, floral, grapefruit, peaches, green apples, nectarines, apricots, subtle peat brine.
Palate:  Waxy citrus sweetness, apples, slight pepper bite gives way to bananas and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with wine notes and fading spices.
Comments:  Quite a nice dram! Fruity without being lopsided with sweetness. Has a bit of a dry quality that reminds me a little of a Riesling.  Improves a lot with some water, thickening the mouthfeel and bringing the fruit notes out more on the palate.  Another really solid offering from the folks at Compass Box.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky

Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

49.2% ABV
$300
Website
Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe

What the Blender Says

‘How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?’ – Satchel Paige

Composed of less than 1% three year-old malt whisky produced near the village of Brora, 90% malt whisky of an unstated age from the same distillery and around 9% peaty malt whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye, regulations only permit us only to share details of the age of youngest component! No matter. For it is this three year-old that is most important to us. Aged from new-make spirit in our own first-fill American oak casks, it imparts a lively vivacity and represents a milestone in our development as whisky makers.

Bottled at 49.2% | Not Chill-Filtered | Natural Colour

The rich vanilla notes, waxy mouthfeel and decadent baked orchard fruit notes from the larger parcel of Highland malt whisky provide a beautiful platform on top of which the brooding qualities of the peaty malt whisky and the clean, bright character of the three year-old parcel are able to shine.

Availability: Limited Edition release of 3,282 bottles worldwide.  Bottled August 2016.

Flavour Descriptors: The rich vanilla notes, waxiness and decadent baked orchard fruit notes from the larger parcel of Highland malt whisky provide a beautiful platform on top of which the brooding qualities of the peaty malt whisky and the clean, bright character of the three year-old parcel are able to shine.

Recommendations: This is a rather unusual three year old Scotch whisky that we recommend enjoying on equally unusual occasions. Share it with friends and family on special occasions, perhaps with cheese at the end of a satisfying lunch. However you drink it, whoever you share it with, above all share and enjoy.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral, malty, honey, bright baked apples, apricots, hint of nectarines, subtle spices.
Palate:  Waxy, sweet to start with honey and apples, sharpens with nectarines, vanilla and almonds.
Finish:  Moderately long with vanilla and apples.
Comments: One of those  drams where the nose lines up almost exactly with the palate.  A lovely dram, where the Clynelish is prominent (which makes sense given this is just over 90% of 24 yr old Clynelish, along with that small 0.4% 3 yr old parcel as well).  Delicious, although would be tough for me to pull the trigger at this price point.

Rating: Stands Out

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Compass Box The Circle

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box The Circle
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$140-$150
Website
Compass Box The Circle

What the Blender Says

Sunshine in a glass

Rosey Mitchell is the 2018 winner of The Circle, our programme designed to inspire bartenders around the world. Rosey’s prize? To create a blend with Compass Box founder John Glaser and whiskymaker Jill Boyd. Rosey wanted to make an approachable whisky to be shared with friends, something for the daytime, a whisky with brightness. She called it “sunshine in a glass.”

The Circle is based around a parcel of fruity and creamy single malt from the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside. This is supported by malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery. A touch of peated malt whisky from an Orkney distillery and a small proportion of a French oak-finished blended malt whisky complete the recipe.

We think we’ve achieved exactly what Rosey envisaged. The whisky is bright and warm with a creamy softness. It practically radiates sunlight!

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Bright, vibrant, creamy. Bursting with apple, vanilla and malty notes with a hint of smokiness on the finish.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS: In the sunshine with good friends.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Bottled at 46% | Natural colour | Not chill filtered | A limited edition of 6,151 bottles | May 2019

LEAD WHISKYMAKERS: Rosey Mitchell and Jill Boyd

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright, green apples, vanilla cream, touch of citrus and a hint of oak.
Palate:  Soft, supple and sweet with vanilla, apples, malt, bit of allspice and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dried fruit and pepper.
Comments:  Another delightful dram from Compass Box that is maybe too easy to drink.  Very bright and fruity, and takes water quite well – with the mouthfeel shifting to creaminess.  Nothing objectionable, but not as complex a pour as I’m accustomed to from Compass Box (at least at this price point). I blame them for spoiling me!

Rating: Stands Out

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