Springbank 1994 30 Year Old Whiskyland Chapter 7 & Springbank Duty Paid Sample Warehouse 8 Rotation 22/P213 - 2 12yo Fresh Palo Cortado

Springbank 1994 30 Year Old Whiskyland Chapter 7

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 48.8%

Price: £995.00

Distilled in 1994 and matured in a refill sherry hogshead, this whisky was bottled in 2024 with a total outturn of 247 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with an instantly recognisable Springbank character, we're getting dunnage warehouse funk, a lovely coastal salinity, hints of red fruits all backed up with a subtle earthy peat smoke that integrates beautifully into the dram. We're finding salted caramel, cocoa nibs, a watered down espresso shot, campfire ashes, brown sugar, light lemon zest aromas and slightly mushy blackcurrants. The alcohol is barely noticeable, very well integrated and the sherry cask hasn't overpowered the spirit in the slightest. As the whisky sits in the glass, more of the earthy, smoky aromas start to appear alongside a little more dry oak, but it's ever changing as we go back and forth.

Palate

The palate opens with leather bound books, zingy lime ice lollies, toffee pennies, and a soft campfire smoke that lingers throughout the latter parts of the palate and finish. We're also finding a velvety mouthfeel with lots of viscous texture, alongside blackcurrant cordial, black tea leaves, cigar wrappers, and red currant jelly. The finish has a mixture of lime cordial, 80% cocoa chocolate and freshly turned earth tha lingers on for a fairly good while. As we go back after some air, we get some fresher fruits appearing, punnets of raspberries and strawberries.. it's one that really does evolve in the glass. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose brings out some freshly cooked filo pastry, a tiny touch of rancio, maybe some torched mackerel skin too. The water has definitely brought some of the richer sherry aromas to the forefront, burnt brown toast and hard toffee too. It's not too dissimilar to the unreduced nose, however we don't feel that it needs any dilution.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has the same zingy citrus up front, but becomes sweeter with more caramel, toffee, and chocolate flavours appearing straight after. The smoke then makes an appearance towards the finish, which feels to have maintained its long length. The finish has some slightly charred, slightly bitter flavours now, and again, we don't think it really needs any water added.  

Conclusion

The nose on this is sublime. It combines everything we want from the Springbank distillate with everything we want from good quality refill sherrywood. The palate follows in a similar suit with old style sherry, deep, rich and dusty, alongside the funky Springbank spirit. It's got a good balance of sweet, savoury, smoky and sour, with well balanced alcohol and a lovely mouthfeel. It's just excellent whisky all round.

Score: 9/10

Value

We wouldn’t call this release cheap, but it’s certainly competitively priced for what it is. 

Springbank Duty Paid Sample Warehouse 8 Rotation 22/P213 - 2 12yo Fresh Palo Cortado

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 57.9%

Price: £80.00

This 12-year-old release was distilled on 12 June 2012 and bottled in 2024, following a transfer to a fresh Palo Cortado cask in 2022. It was available exclusively to distillery visitors. 

Nose

The nose opens with notes of orange marmalade, thyme, pine cones, and pistachios, accompanied by a faint hint of sulphur. There’s surprisingly little of the expected Campbeltown funk. A touch of pepper is present, but it’s easy to nose at this ABV. On revisiting, hints of toffee and fudge emerge, and thankfully, the sulphur note seems to have faded. 

Palate

The palate delivers far more spice than anticipated, with a strong hit of chilli. Behind the heat, there are notes of honey, orange rind, lavender, rose water, dried earth, and a little dark chocolate bitterness. It’s a bold, heavy-hitting dram with a decent mouthfeel. The finish is medium in length, but the chilli spice is a bit overpowering for our tastes. There’s a hint of smoke, though it’s somewhat masked by the intensity of the other flavours. A subtle touch of funk is present as well. 

Nose (with water)

With water, more funk appears on the nose, along with some golden syrup, but overall the nose remains relatively unchanged. Given some time, it does develop a slight meatiness, and a little treacle. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate is much more honey-forward, and the spice has transformed into candied ginger, with the spice and bitterness post-dilution being in better balance. The mouthfeel remains decent, and there’s much more sweetness on the finish now. Most of the pre-diluted notes remain. It definitely benefits from water. 

Conclusion

One we were not massive fans of; however, water massively improves most of the issues we had with it. All things considered, it’s still a quality Springbank.

Score: 7/10

Value

All these duty-paid samples from Springbank are good value, at least if you get them from the distillery.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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