Pre-Christmas session with Alexander: a pair of indie Port Ellens, Bunnahabhain 1976 Celtic Heartlands and 5 CS Sprinbanks: 12 yo CS (batches from 12 to 15) + Local Barley 11 yo 2006/2017

Three gorgeous malts as a starter and five Sprigbanks in a row afterwards, stay tuned :) 

So the idea was to taste 3 more aged expressions first: 

and then go to line of younger and stronger Springbanks: 

Port Ellen 27 yo 1983/2010 McGibbon's  Provenance cask #DMG 6042 46% - matured in refill hogshead, the spirit itself distilled in winter according to the label. 

Nose: fresh one, plenty of salt, oysters and lemon, whiffs of limestone, some eucalyptus after a while and sweet dough at the very end. 

Taste: lingering, sharp and salty. 

Finish: medium-long, only touch of smoke and lots of fish and salt. 

Overall: Alexander named this one a Snow Queen and indeed it is fresh and frosty in some way. Strict teacher in late 40-s :) 

Score = 23 22 22.5 22.5, 90/100!

Port Ellen 24 yo 1983/2008 Douglas Laing OMC cask # DL4113 50% - bottled for Sarzi Amade Nicola & Co (Italian market), 300 bottles released. 

Nose: smoother and oilier than previous one, soaked cucumber, fish, oysters and even prunes. 

Taste: mellow and rounded despite its higher strength. 

Finish: initial sweetness transforms into salt and smokiness in the very end. 

Overall: showing some sherry influence this one is also very good. Waves of gratitude to Alexander for these 2 samples! 

Score = 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5, 90/100!

Bunnahabhain 33 yo 1976/2010 Murray McDavid Celtic Heartlands 49.0% - matured in fino sherry cask and finished in Château d'Yquem. I remember Port Ellen from Murray McDavid also finished in Château d'Yquem which I liked a lot.

Nose: the age matters, immediately we get sweet grapes, tobacco leaves, soft spices (cardamom), tropical fruits (red pineapples) and what is the most amazing - soaked tomatoes after some time which makes it a bit similar to those undisclosed Speysides from 70-s (rumoured to be Glenfarclas matured in fino casks). 

Taste: fresh and rich combining soft spices, fruits and touch of sea salt. 

Finish: medium-long, grassy, salty, spicy with quite a few layers in it. 

Overall: refined and elegant Bunna it is, in this case wine cask finish brought some new tints. 

Score = 23.5 22 22.5 23, 91/100!

And now we start with the line of relatively young and strong malts from Campbelltown, let's go:

Springbank 12 yo batch #12 54.1% - 65% sherry / 35% bourbon casks.

Nose: starts on some industrial fumes and chemicals. Then opens up with earth, salt, smoke and leather. Later on citrus fruits appear and wet rocks. Needs time and/or water. 

Taste: powerful, salty, burst of fruits and minerals. 

Finish: long, sharp, slightly peaty and very mineral. 

Overall: I do love that artisan style of Springbank whiskies.

Score = 22 23 22 22, 89/100!

Springbank 12 yo batch #13 56.3% - 70% sherry / 30% bourbon casks.

Nose: industrial start but then I get more fruits and tobacco comparing to previous one. 

Taste: citrus and smoke. A bit less persuasive comparing to batch #12. 

Finish: salty, earthy and lemony. 

Overall: different opinions with Alexander, I liked batch #12 a bit more, he did like this one. 

Score = 22 22 22 22, 88/100!

Springbank 12 yo batch #14 54.2% - same ratio of 70% sherry / 30% bourbon casks.

Nose: soft smoke, salty citrus with whiffs of mango. 

Taste: fruit sweetness + burst of salt.

Finish: long, salty with nice umami layer in the end.

Overall: liked the finish.

Score = 22 22 22.5 22, 88.5/100!

Springbank 12 yo batch #15 56.5% - 70% sherry / 30% bourbon casks.

Nose: sweet and complex showing more herbs, grass and even perfumes comparing to previous samples. That is quite a shift from "usual" 12 yo CS profile, though it's quite enjoyable. 

Taste: sweet and briny, rich and dense with lovely fruit and barley notes. 

Finish: quite long, sweet, briny with umami hint. 

Overall: tremendous quality for 12 yo standard malt!

Score = 22 22.5 22.5 22, 89/100!

Springbank 11 yo 2006/2017 Local Barley 53.1% - limited (?) run of 9000 bottles.

Nose: wood and lacquer, brine, lemon, oysters and minerals. 

Taste: burst of salty lemonade (!), rich and powerful. 

Finish: long, briny and mineral.

Overall: obviously Local Barley 16 yo is better, additional 5 years of maturation matter, though this one is very solid and surely recommended for those who like coastal and briny style in their glencairns. 

Score = 22 23 22 22, 89/100!