Tasting new Springbank at 8 and 15 years old (2026)
The last Campbeltown Wednesday before our summer break will feature Springbank. After an eventful festival week in May, things return to normal at J&A Mitchell. The team over at Cadenhead’s will probably be preparing for the Courtyard event, which is becoming a fixture as well on the yearly calendar, this one in September. The new bottling hall at Springbank has been opened, and the distillery released a commemorative bottling for that as well, which we will taste today.
We heard some rumours trickle down about the 200th anniversary of Springbank coming up in 2028. First of all, you will have to start saving your money, as all Springbank bottles are said to get a special label with a nod to the designs from the past. Then, secondly, when the bicentennial year is over, the Springbank bottles will get a newly designed label. Something to look forward to. In the meantime, we have to comfort ourselves with the current offerings. I acquired the newest bottle of Springbank 15 years old and cracked it open straight away.
Other news from the quarterly releases includes yet another Springbank 12 years old Cask Strength on full bourbon maturation. Maybe you got it already in your whisky room or cabinet. I saw a picture on Facebook where someone put the 10 years old and this new 12 CS next to each other, and colourwise there was no difference. In our archives we found an older 12 years old Cask Strength that was also fully bourbon matured, and was released in 2021. We taste it just to check how great pure Springbank can be.
Springbank 8 years old, Distillery Exclusive, bottled at 58,1 % abv
First things first: This Springbank was distilled in February 2018 and bottled on 18 May 2026 in the new bottling hall (I suspect). Only 1.200 bottles of this “Bottling Hall Opening 2026 Distillery Exclusive” were released. Matured on oloroso sherry casks.
Upon Sipping: So, the same pedigree as the standard 15 years old, but half the age and an extra boost on abv. Opens on tangerine skins or how your nails smell after peeling one off. The alchemy between Springbank spirit and oloroso sherry wood is just amazing. We will come back later with my pipet, but first a sip. Well, this Springbank 8 years old Bottling Hall Opening 2026 Distillery Exclusive packs a mean punch, with lots of spices, peppers, oloroso sweetness and a giant kick to the teeth on the finish. With water: some diesel fumes actually, before we settle into a more zesty aroma. Traditional limestone has been awoken. On the palate, the aggressive nature has settled a little. Nice hints of blood orange and dates. Not yet the elegance of the 15, but on its way for sure.
Word to the Wise: Brilliantly singular for a special event like the opening of a bottling hall. It was an important moment for Springbank, and this bottle is a tangible memory of that.
Score: 84 points.
Springbank 15 years old, bottled at 46 % abv
First things first: Bottled on 15 April 2026, this traditionally full sherry Springbank.
Upon Sipping: The colour seems a little less dark than what I am used to. Sticking my nose in the glass, it also feels more balanced compared to previous iterations. Opens on oriental spices with a hint of Indian curry and red peppers, before it moves into the fruitbowl. When I just opened the bottle I got a strong hint of (blood) oranges but after some breathing it settles into grapefruit en lemons. Some red fruit scented limestone creeps in too. The keyword is balance, it feels contained, over-confident. The Springbank 15 is the grande dame of the core range, is it not? This years’ expression proves it. Taking a sip, Springbank underlines the fact that they have absolutely no problem finding excellent sherry casks. The palate is covered in smoky wood flavours, dark texture chocolate and cacao powder. Hints of cold brew coffee with a bourbon note, like I tasted in New York earlier this year. With just a little water, the nose gets fruitier still, washing away the spices, leaving some petrichor and rain forest smells. Some tangerines emerge. The juiciness is increased on the palate, taking away some of that more serious wood taste, so it shows two faces. The finish has now a much stronger chocolate signature.
Word to the Wise: Very classic Springbank and this version of the 15 years old seems almost cleaner than normal. Good spices, good fruit, lots of limestone. Did I say classic already?
Score: 88 points.
Springbank 12 years old, Cask Strength – Batch 23, bottled at 55,9 % abv
First things first: Batch 23 released in 2021 was a 100 % bourbon, bottled in September. It seems to me the Springbank team really likes full bourbon versions, as batch 28 was also a full bourbon matured one.
Upon Sipping: Rereading those notes for batch 28, and seeing the score of 91 points, I wonder about this one. It has a big dose of minerals and limestone on the nose, before the tropical fruits enter the fold. The strongest smell comes from the classic tangerines. A superb representation of the Springbank DNA in the glass here, and at full power. The tangerines even give an idea of sherry maturation, but that is all spirit working here, not the casks. Taking a sip, the juices start flowing straight away. It is a bit hot and the peat signature is quite pronounced, before we move to a fruity finish. Wow, this is a fierce one, but somehow I also feel the impact of 11 days of heatwave. It has cooled down, but taking strong alcohol is challenging. Let’s put some water in. The limestone character is enlarged now, at the expense of some fruits. With time, they return with a vengeance though, smelling like pear flavoured ice popsicles from the freezer! The taste has turned into a tropical fruit salad now, but with a limestone edge on the finish. The industrial elements that I found so pronounced in batch 28 are absent here. This is more straightforward on the fruit, less complex, but very, very rewarding.
Word to the Wise: This is a shining jewel in the crown of Springbank core releases. Such power, such elegance, and best presented when it is very pure. These bourbon releases might become boring in their brilliance.
Score: 90 points.