Springbank 1996 19 Year Fresh Port Single Cask #731 (K & L Wine Merchants)

A friend provided this excellent Springbank sample for me to try: the 19-year-old Port Cask Finished. This was a single barrel release for K & L Wine Merchants and only 252 bottles were made. It's cask strength and truly outstanding. This reminds me of the 2013 Laphroaig Cairdeas Port Wood: fantastic smoke, deep sweetness from the port and richness all combined wonderfully. This was bottled at 52.4% ABV and has a rich gold hue in the glass, showing abundant legs and small droplets while appearing very oily as it settled after a vigorous swirl. The aroma is rich, with Port wine and the characteristic light, earthy peat of Springbank. Raisins, plums, and raspberry purée mingle with a subtly chocolatey and smoky undertone. The aroma is genuinely remarkable. A hint of oak cask appears occasionally, but there's no trace of alcoholic bite or heat. The taste is a delicate balance of peat and smoke with luscious Port flavors. Grapes and berries reappear with just the right amount of warmth to prevent it from being overwhelmed by dessert notes. A sharp oak bite emerges mid-sip, startling the palate slightly, but it's also somewhat invigorating. Are we still drinking whisky? The finish is long and chocolatey with a restrained sweetness, much like a well-made sherry-finished dram. It's neither drying nor overly sweet, and a touch of warmth returns—perfectly timed. Some vanilla notes linger long after the sip to keep you engaged. Superb. Overall, this might be the finest Springbank I've experienced. Someone sent me several great Springbank drams after I had nearly dismissed them as either too aggressive when young or too uninteresting with age. I believe the key here is the quality of the finishing casks. The more I try them, the more I appreciate them. This is a beautifully port-finished whisky—perhaps even the best port dram I've had. I'd be foolish to rate it anything less than perfect. So, 5 stars it is. Thanks again. Utterly amazing.

I was honored to sample this single-cask bottling, aged for 19 years in a port pipe, yielding 252 bottles at strength, thanks to the kindness of a friend. The aroma has some similarities to the 17-year Sherry version, beginning with that chalky vitamin note, followed by some licorice, cherry, and plum. That plum is a distinct element I haven't encountered in other Springbanks, reminding me of past experiences getting drunk on baijiu in China. On the palate, this scotch remains true to its heritage, showcasing its dry, woody, minty, and medicinal qualities. A subtle hint of plum briefly appears, along with some orange, but this is definitely not a fruity scotch, like all others I've sampled. Springbank's inherent distillery character is so pronounced that its minerality is the dominant flavor regardless of cask finish. Therefore, you must appreciate that core taste to truly enjoy Springbank. The finish on the 19 is the finest Springbank finish I've had, presenting the most balanced blend of mint, smoke, chalk, and plum.

I need a constant stream of this to my mouth. The aroma is intricate, featuring notes of apricots, oranges, leather, brine, tobacco, and mint. On the palate, a big, succulent plum comes through, alongside sea salt, more tobacco, mocha, espresso, and additional fruit like a raspberry compote. A flaky crust sensation leads into a pleasant, medium finish with more mint and chocolate chip ice cream, concluding with smoke at the end. Overall, it's a wonderfully balanced drink, and it's a shame only 252 bottles exist. A fitting song for this spirit would be a rare b-side, perhaps "Acquiesce" by Oasis.

Nose: vanilla, phenolic, smoked fish background, musk, river stones, apricot. Arrival: phenolic, smooth, butterscotch, lemon rind, wheat. Finish: very long, nutty, light smoke. Sublime!