Springbank Calvados Finish

I'm continuing my peat theme for the week with something special.  The Springbank Calvados Finish spent six years in bourbon casks and another six in Calvados casks.  It was distilled in April 2000 and bottled last fall.

Springbank Calvados Finish, 12 years old, 52.7% abv ($110)

The nose has malt and fruit with wisps of smoke.  The palate has serious peat, like you knock you over peat.  It opens with some light sweet malt character and then the peat comes in waves, getting sharper and sharper, building until it's like a mouth full of ash (in a good way) which is pretty much what the finish is. To the extent there is Calvados influence it's only lightly suggested with a tinge of apple on the late palate and in the finish...it's very subtle.  Overall, it tastes more like Octomore than a typical Springbank.

This might be the best new whisky I've had so far this year.  If you've got $100 or so to spend, pass up the Ardbog and grab a bottle of this stuff.  Luckily for us, there seems to be plenty around.

Put a Spring in Your Step: K&L Bourbon Barrel Springbank

K&L's Dynamic Duo of Davids is heading to Scotland again this year to find more single barrels for us, but I'm still tasting through last year's set. While there have been some I haven't cared for (and okay, one that was downright awful, but that's another story), the general quality of K&L's picks from last year was very high, and I previously posted about some of my favorites.

Last year's pick included two Springbanks, a 14 year old Madeira barrel and a 13 year old bourbon barrel aged. I was most interested in the bourbon barrel. Springbank is one of those distilleries with a cult-following, maybe not to the extent of Ardbeg, but pretty close. Personally, while I've enjoyed some Springers, I've never understood the devotion to the distillery. I just haven't had that many Springbanks that I've loved. I was particularly interested in this bourbon barrel expression because I always think it's interesting to try bourbon aged versions of malts that are more typically sherried. Once you peel away those bold sherry notes, what's left?

Springbank 1998 (for K&L), 13 years old, 56.9% abv ($95)

The nose on this is very botanical and herbal with gin-like juniper notes. The palate follows suit with huge botanical notes. I get Genever gin, some rye whiskey notes and pickling spices. Water brings out even more spice and some fresh wood notes. The finish is hot and spicy.

This is a really great Springbank and one I would heartily recommend. It's not the usual flavor profile at all, but very lively and flavorful. Great stuff and it's still in good supply.