Springbank 25 Year Old 1991

I'm trying to get through my sample collection by tasting half-ounce portions and moving on if something doesn't capture my interest. I might end up combining the ones that don't immediately grab me, so perhaps we'll see how Old Pulteney integrates with unusual Bruichladdich casks. For Friday's tasting, I selected three Springbank single sherry casks distilled between 1991 and 1995, working from the youngest to the oldest. The first, distilled in 1995 and bottled 21 years later by Copper Monument from a sherry hogshead, bottled at 45.8%, began promisingly with aromas of stewed fruits, a flaming Christmas pudding, and caramelized nuts. However, the palate was somewhat one-dimensional and watery, a subdued version of the nose. A pleasant funky aftertaste offered some compensation. The second was more captivating: a private cask (#321, if you're curious) distilled in 1993 and bottled 23 years later at 52.3%. Its nose presented an appealing blend of funk, peat, and leather, followed by a sweet and savory palate that concluded with a tangy finish. Nevertheless, half an ounce of each was sufficient—I'd rate them 3.25-3.5—and I was content to proceed to the oldest of the trio. Cask 420, distilled in 1991 and bottled 25 years later for the esteemed Bleeding Heart restaurant in London at 53.2%, needed to evoke a sense of history, fitting for a venue associated with Dickens. Indeed, the nose was rich with the scent of old books and worn leather armchairs. On the palate, it was more robust than the other two, thick and coating the mouth. A burst of peat was followed by cocoa, molten chocolate lava cake, and brown sugar. The finish lingered on the brown sugar note, gradually fading into a spicy peat conclusion. From start to finish, it was an almost perfect combination, missing only a touch of that captivating Springbank funk. Unfortunately, I only had an ounce of this, and I couldn't find any bottles for sale online—only 100 were released. However, it would be unfair to complain too much. Single casks are highly variable, and I suspect you might be disappointed if you spent a significant amount on either of the first two. The Bleeding Heart bottle, though, justifies the dedicated pursuit of exceptional casks. May the search continue.