Springbank Gaja Barolo 9 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.

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. (Unfortunately, the word from the importer is that Springbank are discontinuing their wood finished range).

In our experience, wine and whisky don't often make for the happiest pairing. After four years in refill bourbon barrels, followed by another five further years in Gaja Barolo wine casks, this one fires on all cylinders. We received a small sample. Powerful aromatics include creme caramel, dried fruit and nut, cocoa and dense malt. Mouthfilling fruit'n'nut chocolate profile is delicately bitter sweet with a strong peaty undercurrent and superb, juicy texture, spicing up towards the finish but maintaining terrific balance for such a broad shouldered and weighty offering. Distilled February 2004. Bottled October 2013. 11,000 bottles produced. 54.7% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... It seems that this baby's the very last expression in this series, and so that there will be no more. I have to say I've never been a huge fan of these red wine finishings or double maturings. In this case, the whisky spent more than half his life in the Barolo casks, so 5 years out of 9. Colour: pale gold. Rather strange as it’s supposed to be ex-fresh Barolo casks, but probably better like this. Nose: unexpectedly light, with some fresh butter, yellow flowers and touches of tangerines at first nosing, then even pears, guavas and pineapples. I do not find much red wine at this point, let alone a usually rather heavy Barolo feeling. With water: more ‘Springbank’, with quite some raw barley and a little chalk, but all the fruits remain there. Mouth (neat): sweet and creamy, with a lot of spicy European oak and quite some lemon zest, then the same fruits, including tropical ones, as in the nose. Also a little salt and brine, but not a lot of petroly/phenolic notes. With water: the heavy spices got milder, while the fruits got tarter. Maybe more mangos and rhubarb this time, as well as a discreet peatiness. Finish: long, zesty and rather cleaner than the usual young Springbank. Quite a lot of tannins in the aftertaste. Comments: I really like this one. They must have carefully rinsed the casks, or maybe they even steamed them. All for the better in my opinion.  86 points - whiskyfun.com