Springbank 10 Year Local Barley (2019)

I received a very small sample of this and intend to re-evaluate it in a day or two with the remaining portion. Nose - This is bright and very fresh. It almost transports me to a commercial for Ocean Spray, with fruits and sea spray hitting you in the face. It's clean and straightforward, with no single element dominating. Digging deeper, however, I detect faint earthy notes and oak. The subtle fruit notes fade. Then, the whiskey reveals a malty sweetness. It's not complex or exciting, just a pleasant sweetness. Overall, this is less influenced by the cask than the 9 year and less fruity and sherry-forward than the first 10 year. I find it less engaging than either. Adding water brings out sugary sweetness, but also wet sawdust and salty sea air. Taste - Unlike the nose, the taste is much bolder and more intense. It's sugary sweet, salty, and oak-driven, with a long oaky and smoky finish. Water enhances the sugars, reminiscent of classic cane sugar, followed by the unmistakable peated character of Springbank new make. Earthiness quickly takes over and dominates the finish and palate. Unlike the 9 year, which I perceive as new make-forward with some citrus notes, the new 10 year brings in some bourbon cask sweetness. Despite its youth, the vibrant energy is exciting and prompts a lot of investigation as I try to understand this bold flavor profile. It reminds me of Booker's bourbon – big, BOLD, rich, assertively presenting both the distillery character and the local barley character, but somewhat lacking in depth and complexity, ultimately tasting like a much less expensive whiskey. While I appreciate the complexity of Springbank and the barley notes, I can't rate this too low. However, considering the stated 30% sherry and 3% port influence, I'm barely detecting distinct cask notes, at least until I add a third, rather large drop of water. With that addition, some of those notes do begin to emerge, but nonetheless, I believe this is a step down from the previous release. Three stars – good, but only worth buying if you're a dedicated Springbank enthusiast.

Outstanding