Springbank 12 Year Old Calvados Wood Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Most of what’s been released from Springbank since the early 1990s could be classified as good to great. The beautiful thing about this company is that there’s always something else on the horizon. From triple distilled, to heavily peated and cask strength expressions, to wood finished whiskies, the latter of which Springbank are the modern day masters of.

This edition spent six years in a refill Bourbon Cask followed by six years in a fresh Calvados (apple brandy) cask. Distilled April 2000. Bottled October 2012. 9420 bottles produced.

Tasting note: We've been looking forward to trying this Springbank for some time as the fusion sounded intriguing. It presents a bright straw gold appearance. Hovering it under your nose from a distance rewards with a superb, pure toffee apple top note. Delving further into the glass reveals Springbank's typically salty, mildly peaty, masculine spirit along side suggestions of Johnathan apple peel and pear. Robust yet well balanced, the palate unfolds a semi sweet profile of vanilla oak, spice and, seemingly, more grape than apple. Creamy peat kicks in at the finish, taking the profile on an alternative trajectory. Concludes long and dry with a lanolin fade. Not obviously Calvados-like, but nor should it be - this is whisky. Sufficient surprises to thrill. 52.7% Alc./Vol.