Springbank 15 Year Old is bottled at 46% ABV, with a stated maturation of 100% sherry. The distillery describes it as dark and ominous but delicious and recommends it after dinner or with a favourite cigar.
 
Springbank has been producing whisky since 1828, and its single malts are made entirely in-house using skills the distillery describes as passed down from one generation to the next. The malt is lightly peated in the distillery's own kiln, and the spirit is distilled 2.5 times.
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The nose is big and savoury rather than simply sweet: cured meat, barbecued beef jerky, clove, mint, iodine, oxo cube and tinned prunes, which the distillery attributes to its Oloroso cask maturation. Lobster creels are named as a nod to Springbank's maritime character. On the palate, the peat becomes more evident, with sooty kiln smoke and tobacco leaf alongside prunes, walnuts, figs, Demerara sugar, cocoa powder and smoked meats, in a viscous texture. The finish builds with soot, leather and walnuts before easing away gradually.
 
It's a good choice for customers who enjoy sherried whisky with a savoury, smoky side rather than a purely fruity or sweet profile. If you're unsure whether it suits your taste, ask in store.
 
Tasting Notes
 
Nose: Cured meat, barbecued beef jerky, clove, mint, iodine, Oxo cube, tinned prunes, lobster creels (maritime character)
Palate: Sooty kiln smoke and tobacco leaf, with prunes, walnuts, figs, Demerara sugar, cocoa powder and smoked meats; viscous texture
Finish: Soot, leather and walnuts, building before it eases off