SPRINGBANK 21 YEAR 2020 EDITION

My 300th review, and I'm the first to review the 2020 edition of Distiller's of Springbank 21 year. This year's batch uses 30% bourbon casks, 30% rum casks, 25% sherry casks, and 15% port casks. It's the darkest 21 year they've released recently, at least since 2013, as those are the only ones I've seen. It's two or three shades deeper than the 2019, which was 45% Port and 55% Rum. Could wet sherry and port casks be the reason? Nose: I detect raspberries, a dunnage warehouse, a hint of strawberry, salt, brine, peat, light oak wood smoke, some type of plum pie, and old oak leaning towards shoe leather. Taste: The initial impression is a full-volume, abrasive Springbank. This spirit isn't refined right out of the bottle. There's peat, smoke, and sea salt, with intense oak throughout. It's clear this spent decades in very active casks, leading to notes of dirty rum, rich vanilla from the bourbon, dark fruits from the sherry, and that dank, dark basement character from the port. The combination isn't ideal, and perhaps time will smooth out the rough edges, but I'm not sure I want that. The finish is long, full, mouth-watering, and completely coats the palate. Adding water doesn't help this dram much. Initially, it brings out more salt and peat, but then it introduces a touch more sweetness. It doesn't truly enhance anything and slightly diminishes some of the exciting depth. However, water isn't a major problem either; they're like coworkers who only interact at the office. Let the water settle for a bit, and at first, they seem a bit distant. I purchased this for 215 plus shipping, but that price is unlikely to be found again. I anticipate retail prices of 350-450 USD. I'd readily buy a second bottle up to 450. While I prefer the 2019 slightly, I'm absolutely captivated by this edition too. I suspect there's more port and sherry influence than the online details indicate, or these were exceptionally dark and intense port and sherry casks ever found. I am completely in love, folks. This is whisky made correctly. It receives the same score as the 2019 at a 4.25. The 46% ABV and the slight lack of refinement are preventing it from reaching truly exceptional scores, but I confess I'm considering upgrading both the 2019 and 2020 to 4.5s. This is for fans of savory flavors, not those seeking the more refined and sweeter styles sometimes found in their 21-year-old expressions.

An exceptional dram. This contains all the desirable qualities in a whisky. It was aged in a mix of 30% bourbon casks, 30% rum casks, 25% sherry casks, and 15% port casks. Its extraordinarily dark color could easily lead one to believe it was fully matured in first-fill sherry casks based on appearance alone. The fact that only a quarter of the casks were sherry casks, and 40% combined were sherry and port casks, indicates that very active sherry and port casks were utilized in the blending. Nose: Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Raspberries, Sour Cherries, Burnt Oranges, Guava, Sea Salt, Prunes, Dates, Bananas, Coconut, Shortbread Cookies, Blue Cheese, Peaches, Passion Fruit, Pineapples, Figs, Flowers Palate: Milk Chocolate, Toffee, Dates, Pepper, Oak, Licorice, Orange Peels, Cherries, Prunes, Smoke, Sea Salt, Mackerels, Caramel, Butterscotch, Coffee Finish: Milk Chocolate, Cherries, Oranges, Blackberries, Peaches, Pepper, Dates, Figs, Raspberries, Lavender, Coffee

This presents a challenging evaluation, as your rating will likely depend on your initial expectations. It may represent the pinnacle of what a complex, heavily sherried whisky can offer: stewed and jammy dark fruits, nuttiness, leather, dark chocolate, and an enduring finish. However, if your purchase was driven by a love for Springbank, you might find it disappointing. The malt and distillery character are significantly subdued due to the powerful (and impressive, yet potentially overpowering) cask influence. Overall, a noteworthy experience, but consider your preferences for a $500 bottle.