Springbank Local Barley 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2022 Release

Collectors note: Springbank's labels almost always arrive with minor wearing and markings, most often to the top of the front labels. This is unavoidable. If you are likely to be disappointed by minor label scuffing, we recommend you don't buy these whiskies.

15,000 bottles make up the 2022 addition to one of our all-time favourite series of contemporary Springbanks. Produced from Belgravia barley harvested from Glencraig's Farm near Campbeltown, the resulting spirit was matured in a mix of 55% Sherry, 35% Bourbon and 10% x-Rum barrels giving it a markedly deeper colour than many previous Local Barley bottlings. Considering the reputation for high quality and the very limited nature of this series, we don't expect any of the LBs to be easily re-stocked in the future. 55.1% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.

Other reviews... I find it very smart that they would keep using the old livery (while it's not the oldest for the LBs). This one was distilled from Belgravia barley from Glencraigs Farm, right on the road to Campbeltown. Colour: white wine. Nose: something else, really, this is almost a blend of mezcal, aquavit and genever, even if seawater and pure lemon juice would then chime in. In the end, it is pure oyster juice, with some tabasco and Worcester sauce, plus a good glass of zero-dosage champagne. With water: once again, more mud, rainwater and porridge, with a touch of curry this time, poppadums, Mouth (neat): but where does this mezcal stem from? More bone-dry champagne too, more aquavit, more oyster water, more lemon and lime juices. It's also fat and oily, and certainly not as 'dirty' as your usual Springbanks (which, granted, I love too). With water: some curry again, aniseed, capsicum, bell pepper… I would suppose that's the oak, not the Belgravia barley. It's different, vive la difference, I like it. Finish: long, with salty lemons ruing it all and much more smoke in the aftertaste. Comments: I just tried 2017's 11 yo Local Barley again, I find this newer expression of an eleven largely superior, but I wouldn't say it's better, stricto sensu, than the astounding 2007 from Cadenhead's. 91 points - whiskyfun.com