Springbank 1992 24 Year Cask #212214 (The Maltman)

A friend gave me a taste of this scarce, outstanding single sherry cask, 24 years old from Springbank. It was an unexpected addition to our group's tour. Finding one might cost around $500 on the resale market. Bottled by The Maltman in 2017, it's 47.1% ABV, naturally chill-filtered, and uncolored. The glass holds a deep gold/amber liquid that appears oily, forming thick droplets and thin legs upon swirling. The aroma presents deep sherry notes with a smoky base. With patience, hints of coffee, espresso, apricots, and vibrant oranges emerge. The citrus became more pronounced over time. I could happily just smell this until it was gone. What a remarkable nose. The taste mirrors the oranges and coffee initially. It felt a bit strong at first, but the second taste revealed sherry flavors and a touch of spicy oak. Smoke permeated the entire sip. A substantial mouthfeel ensured all the flavors adhered to every part of the mouth and tongue. It's intense, but absolutely fantastic. The finish is exceptionally long, aided by the heavy coating in the mouth. It also provides a comforting warmth. The oranges are prominent again before oak concludes the experience on a somewhat dry note. An incredible journey from beginning to end. Generally, when a distinct flavor dominates a sip, like these oranges, I might reduce points or unfairly call it simple. However, that's not the situation here. The orange notes act like a comforting layer, settling everything and providing solace precisely when needed. The oranges effectively envelop the entire drink. It's quite pleasant. It's difficult to fault this, except for the small serving size. For that reason, it earns a perfect score. It's incredibly delicious, intricate, and stunning. My thanks again to the person who shared it. This might have been the highlight of the event for me.

My experience with Springbank is limited to the 12-year cask strength expression. I really didn't care for that one much and have had mixed feelings about trying other versions. Thanks to the SDT, that decision has been made for me. This 24-year-old, distilled in July 1992 and bottled in April 2017, comes from the independent bottlers at The Maltman. Sourced from a (likely refill) sherry cask (cask #212214), this Campbeltown single malt is bottled at 47.1% ABV and is non-chill filtered with a natural orange-amber color. One of 244 bottles. The nose starts with gentle sherry and oak, with a detectable peat. Warm baked bread, baked apples and cinnamon. A chalky minerality and earthy peat. Sherried fruits, peaches, oranges, plums, apricots, and pears. Honey, malt, slightly salty. Some chocolate notes, light tobacco, and a very faint mint. Some vanilla cream makes its way in, which is unusual for a sherry-matured scotch. The palate is refined. Some sweetness is balanced by the peat. Very similar to the nose. Sherried fruits, apricots, peaches, apples, and plums. Earthy, salty. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that is oily and mouthwatering. The finish is medium-long with earthy peat, apricots, peaches, honey, and malt. This is truly a wonderful scotch, and even though it's not an official distillery release, it has restored my confidence in Springbank. The peat remains prominent after 24 years. I feel I could have picked up more if I had more than 1oz to sample, but at $500 per bottle, I'm glad to have tasted it at all. 4.5, and thanks to my friend for the lovely sample. Cheers

A significant part of my role as a pastor involves the spiritual realm, much like this dram, which truly goes beyond typical whisky. How can something embody both profound darkness and light, earthiness and airiness? The nose evokes a smoky, rugged harbor, yet also suggests fruit and flower stalls, with a chocolatier and coffee roaster nearby. The palate masterfully balances smokiness, saltiness, fruitiness, dryness, and bitterness without ever feeling chaotic. Each flavor has its distinct place; nothing is overpowering or unbalanced. Without a doubt, this is one of the most memorable whiskies I've had the pleasure to taste; my sincere thanks to a friend for sharing this with me! I can only hope the rest of this week is as smooth as this Springbank.

I finished the last ounce of this. An ounce left for months in an otherwise empty 750ml bottle must have some impact from oxidation. The profile seemed much more extreme this time. I took half an ounce and added a little ice, and the rest with a drop of water. It's like the two sides of a celebrity. One sample was rough and intense, the other was pleasant and mellow. The version with ice was grittier than before, with dominant notes of burnt coffee and pure cacao. The version with a drop of water had milk chocolate and orange, lighter than months ago. I suppose that's the effect of oxidation.

Thrilled to try this! Springbank is among my top three distilleries, though this is only my second time with a Maltman. The aroma reminds me of high-end Japanese whisky, with notes of cherries, strawberries, powdered sugar, marshmallows, a hint of peat smoke, and celery. The palate echoed the fruit flavors with candy gumdrops, light brown sugar, and faint tobacco. The signature leathery quality emerges on the medium finish, accompanied by a sweet mouthfeel that lingers with caramel chews, mocha, and Heath toffee. You find the best bottles, my friend! Thank you immensely for the chance to taste this magnificent dram. Rated 4.75. This is liquid gold; the theme for this dram is "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac.

A distinctive Springbank. It's polarizing; your enjoyment hinges on personal preference. Upon opening, potent scents of coffee and tobacco emerged. The taste mirrors this with more coffee, deep 80% cacao chocolate, and citrus. The aroma is its strongest feature, captivating enough to inhale endlessly. The palate dictates the love/hate reaction. Fans of coffee, tobacco, or oranges will appreciate the richness and mild bitter complexity. A crucial tip for others experiencing it: AVOID ICE AND EXCESSIVE WATER. A few drops of water transformed it wonderfully. However, adding an ice cube made the coffee flavor intensely bitter, reminiscent of stale coffee served on a plane.