Springbank 1999 11 YO Local Barley Society Bottling

Springbank 1999 11 YO Local Barley, 57,9 %

The Springbank 1999 11 YO Local Barley is a Society bottling released in 2011 and made available to the Springbank Society members.

Distilled in 1999, matured for 11 years in a re-charred sherry butt, then bottled in 2011. The total outturn was 516 bottles. If you are lucky you can find this online at around GBP 140.

Nose (24/25): Lots of apples, dipped in a dark and rich sherry flavored fruit syrup. It's big and rich! A bit like sticking your nose into a big jar of molasses. There's a whiff of smoke, and something like mustard seeds. I could cook with this! ...but I won't, I would much rather drink it. Given extra time in the glass, the rich sweetness becomes a bit more sugary and I find rich barley notes. There's more dark fruits in the mix now.

Taste (23/25): Smooth, rich and full-bodied. Warm. Heaps of dark fruits marinated in a rich sherry sauce. Molasses here as well, and pepper, ginger and a touch of oaky bitterness.

Finish (22/25): Tapers off a bit too quickly, or maybe that's just me wishing that it would go on for a while longer.

Balance (23/25): Wow! This is a stunner!

Score (92/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas