Springbank 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2024 bottling

"This is riiiight up my alley... either Springbank 18 is evolving, or it’s me. Or, well, perhaps both." - whiskyfun.com

The all-Bourbon matured 18 year old makes a return to our shelves with the annual 2024 edition just landed. The last time Serge Valentin from whiskyfun tasted this expression was back in 2020. As noted from his most recent tasting below, these bottlings seem to be getting better and better. The producers note honeyed granola, fruit gums, pear drops and tropical fruits. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... A freshly bottled edition, August 2024. A sign of the times, you’ll currently find Springbank 18 priced anywhere between €350 and €750 from online retailers, or from €250 on eBay. Of course, this doesn’t change the quality of the liquid one bit. The last one we tasted was the 2020 edition, very good (WF 86) but a far cry from our favourite, the 10-year-old (WF 91 last time) or the younger Local Barleys (also 91). And it's far superior to the ‘Red’, about which we’ll remain silent. Colour: straw. Nose: surprising, heading in the direction of the 10-year-old, with plenty of wet chalk, raw wool, sourdough, aspirin tablets, even bandages, followed by lemon zest, paraffin, a hint of seawater, and traces of tar. This is riiiight up my alley. Mouth: oilier and saltier on the palate, with peat, ashes, a touch of green apple liqueur, and that persistent wet chalk that’s a bit reminiscent of ‘natural’ champagnes. A lovely green pepper then appears, accompanied by small bits of candied lemon, which I find particularly ‘Springbank’. Finish: long, saline, peppery, with fine bitterness and ash, and then paraffined lemon in the aftertaste. Comments: well, either Springbank 18 is evolving, or it’s me. Or, well, perhaps both. 90 points - whiskyfun.com

On the nose very much determined by the bourbon barrel: Ripe yellow fruit, vanilla and flower meadow. Accompanied by very subtle smoke. A wonderfully complex nose. Lots of bright yellow fruits are again present on the tongue. There is also a spicy eucalyptus note and plenty of complexity. A wonderful whisky. Springbank and 100% bourbon simply work brilliantly. One of the best whiskies I've had the pleasure of drinking so far. - whiskybase.com

Notes from the producers... Nose: Tropical fruits are at the forefront in notes of papaya and pineapple. There is a malty, dried barley note, with vanilla and custard creams. Palate: Notes of golden syrup and honeyed granola emerge on the palate, along with fruit gums, pear drops and butter icing. Finish: The tropical fruits carry through to the finish, with the addition of a herbaceous, gorse note and a touch of sea salt.