Springbank 10, 20 & 1998

Springbank 10 years old, Open Day 2025, bottled at 57,9 % abv

First things first: Some 2000 bottles of 350 ml have been filled of this supposedly cask strength version of the regular Springbank 10 years old. The casks used are bourbon and re-charred sherry. Bottled for the Open Day 2025 at Springbank on 30 April 2025. 

Upon Sipping: Scrolling through Whiskybase comments, I read somewhere that this contains 70 % bourbon casks. The colour seems to support this too, nice, bright, light yellow. While pouring the sample in the glass, the liquid seems thick and oily and swirling the glass around, the tears are indeed fat and drippy. The classic Springbank nose is here in abundance. Some motor oil, limestone and ripe oranges, with just that subtle whiff of smoke. The industrious note probably finds its roots in the sherry content. Then some honey and waxes rise from the glass. Very pure, this experience. I am surprised how elegantly this slips on the palate, with a bright vanilla touch that has an edge of smoke and nutmeg. Corn bread, muesli before adding the milk. Was this made at a bakery instead of a distillery? I added a little water, even though that is against the purpose of this bottling, which is to show us the “10” before it is filled to 46 % abv. But anyway… more vanilla on the nose and always this dark impression of smoke. Almost like a fireplace that you lit up already a week ago, and still has that smoulder in it. Then the waxes return, almost linking this to a very pure Clynelish. The taste has become a tad more dry, with soft gummi bears now, but the finish gains a more industrious edge. Smoke (and mirrors). 

Springbank 20 years old, Malts Barn Dinner 2025, bottled at 54,1 % abv 

First things first: The Malts Barn Dinner is always one of the highlights of the Campbeltown Malts Festival. On 21 May 2025, this 20 year old Springbank from fresh bourbon barrel # 653 was bottled from a 2004 vintage. The attendants choose this cask out a series of three similar casks. 

Upon Sipping: Fruit and dust and a whiff of concrete, as if this Springbank was filtered through the barns’ concrete floor before bottling. Totally clean, vibrant and fresh on fruits that start to leave the mild climate and turn into tropical versions. I am strongly reminded of the Springbank 18 years old that was released in 2024 and was a full bourbon matured expression. I would not be surprised if similar casks were used for that batch. The taste opens strongly on vanilla, but then the palate gets covered with tropical juice, showing that it is already ahead of the nose. Banana mousse and a hint of smoke make for an interesting finish. This one is really a border case, leaving some classic (young) Springbank characteristics behind, while slowly sliding into what one could describe as “old Islay tropical notes”. I hope some casks have been saved to taste at 25 years!

Word to the Wise: A single malt whisky that shows how a single cask can be a universe on its own and still be connected to all the rest. A good choice by the guests at the Malts Barn Dinner.

Score: 91 points.

Springbank 1998 Vintage, bottled at 48,3 % abv

First things first: Here it is, the official replacement for the Springbank 25 years old, and the first in a new Vintage Series. Chosen from 1998 stock, this is 1500 bottles taken solely from sherry casks. The calculated age is 26 years of maturation. 

Upon Sipping: An almost pinkish hue in the glass, but more bronze. Sticking my nose in, I can see why Springbank choose not to bottle this as just a regular “25”. That one year they could have easily overseen. But no, with a sherry nose as beautiful as this vintage release, it deserves a standalone. Beautiful red fruit but – not unlike the 2004 single cask we tasted above – there is some sense of concrete. It slowly fades into the classic limestone, and then tropical fruits that have some trouble crawling out from under the sherried layers. It becomes a bit scattered all over the place, so whenever you pick up the glass again, you get something new. Sometimes a marketplace in Casablanca, the next time car repair shop in Campbeltown. Pungent stuff, making me curious about the taste. 

The mouthfeel is a bit milky soft, with lots of chocolate and hints of earth, like accidently touching your mouth with dirty fingers after working in the garden. Dry character and not without some sulphury hints in the background, making me feel almost nostalgic about flawed single casks from this or that (independent) bottler when I started getting into whisky some 20 years ago. Yes, this is nostalgic whisky. The finish lacks some much needed punch. A bit too leathery and dry.