Coming Soon - 1992 Douglas Laing & Co. XOP Xtra Old Particular Springbank 31 Year Old Single Cask Limited Release Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"A new kind of old Springbank—abstract, simple, magnificent." - whiskyfun.com

When it comes to pricing, the trajectory of regular Springbanks is heading further and further north, which puts the value for luxury bottlings like this into perspective. Apart from the extreme age statement and the stellar quality, collectors should note the tiny outturn of this particular release - just 176 bottles from a single refill hogshead. As for the style, says one fortunate taster: "It's sublime. No need to say more. We've reached a level where we can't use words and all we can hope for is another half-centilitre." Be quick. Seldom do you find a Springa' that breaches the three decade mark at this sort of price. 46.3% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.

Other reviews... Colour: light gold. Nose: the house style when there’s no sherry. Direct, slightly fermentary, with raw wool, modelling clay, damp chalk, and slate… You get the idea—it’s rather mineral, simple, almost youthful, yet to me, of an almost Caravaggesque beauty. Nothing is missing, and nothing is superfluous. Mouth: citrus and pepper, plus seawater and apple juice. That’s it—it’s little, and it’s a lot. A new kind of old Springbank—abstract, simple, magnificent. Isn’t complexity overrated in whisky? (Of course not—pure b*ll*cks.) Finish: not the longest, but always ultra-precise, with liquorice, mint, lemon, ashes, and pepper. Comments: it’s great fun tasting these vintages, which we first tried when they were ten years old, back when their ‘flaws’ hadn’t yet become their strengths. Who said time isn’t a major ingredient in whisky—aside from accountants? 92 points - whiskyfun.com

"Buttered country bread toasts, with semi-salted butter, gourmet cereals with a few raisins, ash vanilla with a pinch of icing sugar, delicately salted shortbread biscuits, melting caramel, nougatine, hint of mineral peat, almost chiseled, coconut, banana. Dry hay. On the palate, candied lemon, creamy flan, pulpy white fruits, with a slight sweetness. Maple syrup, pine needles, very light spices. Nutmeg coated with a sweet smoke. Very long, deep, ample finish, with maritime waves, foam and kelp, mineral, quartz and slate, cereal, wheat germ and oats, and farmhouse. Warm sand, a zest of clementine. Hazelnut. It's sublime. No need to say more. We've reached a level where we can't use words and all we can hope for is another half-centilitre." - whiskybase.com