This is a blend of Springbank and Longrow whiskies, from Campbeltown distillery Springbank, bottled at 40%, and priced aggressively. I love Springbank, and have never once had a bad pour from any of their offerings. Supposedly this is aged about 5 years. Let's get right down to it:
Nose: Tobacco leaf, leather, a musty dankness that is quite appealing. Very young nose, very young. Hints of hot pepper. Hints of coastal salinity. Was this cave-aged, like cheese? The nose is 100% savory, no fruit whatsoever. Sack cloth. Extinguished campfire, machine smoke. Not enough whiskies have "machine smoke." And with time in the glass, the machine element takes on a scent very redolent of gasoline (!).
Mouthfeel: Medium, silky.
Palate: Now there's an unexpected rush. With a heavy body for 40% alcohol, it's filled with drips of honey and little young chunks of that motor oil Springbank funk I love so much, and that dirty smoke. Hot peppers, too. And perhaps hints of fruit - I wasn't sure, but maybe a little pear? The combination of sweet honey and savory industrial notes is enticing.
Finish: Smoke, a surprising amount of smoke. Lays on the tongue, last a long time on the tongue. It's so easy to become poetic with Springbank...
Verdict: Huge fan of this! Giant thanks to Rob Martin, who got me a bottle of this for my birthday - he predicted my tastes with 100% accuracy. A real winner of a blend from one of the best distilleries in Scotch whisky. Highly recommended (and quite affordable!).
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