Springbank Cage Bottle - 17yo Fresh Sherry Hogshead

Whisky: Springbank Cage Bottle - 17yo Fresh Sherry Hogshead

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 56.1%

Price: £90

Yes, today’s review is a Springbank cage bottling that we made the mistake of sharing with friends. If you need an intro to Springbank then stop reading this review, get online and find yourself a bottle of Springbank 10... you'll thank us later.

Nose

Malt, milk chocolate, hazelnut, raisin, strawberry marmalade, saltiness, light peat, toasted brioche, warehouse mustiness.

Palate

Dried apricots, burnt toast, chocolate orange, coffee, salted caramel, bit of an alcohol bite but not too much, a lingering sweet finish.

Nose (with water)

Earthy mushroom notes, toast with jam, more dried fruits, both dark and light. Saltwater, wet oak.

Palate (with water)

Smoke comes through more than it did before, bitter chocolate, mocha, some light citrus.

Conclusion

This knocks it out of the park. It’s balanced perfectly. Pity that getting your hands on one of these will cost a literal arm and a leg on auction, but I’d pay more than the £90 RRP that you pay in Campbeltown.

Score: 9/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Springbank Cage Bottle - 17yo Fresh Sherry Hogshead? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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