Springbank Vintage 1998 & Springbank 12 Cask Strength (Batch 27 - 2025 Release)

Springbank Vintage 1998

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 48.3%

Price: £525.00

This is the inaugural release of the Springbank Vintage Series, a collection of limited annual bottlings launched to showcase some of the distillery’s oldest whiskies. Replacing the Springbank 25, this first edition is a 1998 vintage, 100 percent sherry matured using a mix of refill and first fill Oloroso casks, and was bottled in 2025. One of just 1,500 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with a mixture of dunnage funk, rose, raspberry purée, old wood, toffee and cranberry juice. It’s incredibly well integrated, the alcohol is barely noticeable but the nose is very expressive, an impressive mixture of salty Campbeltown dunnage aromas mixed with sweet and nutty sherry without one overpowering the other. Time and air brings out Mr. Kiplings angel slices, hessian cloth, cherry compote and a little fresh earth. 

Palate

The palate opens with more raspberry jam, whipped cream with a sprinkling of sea salt, light toffee, wet pebbles, chocolate coins, toasted hazelnuts and fondant icing. The mouthfeel is a little thinner than we’d like but the spirit is still carrying the flavour well, however the finish does peter off fairly quickly. Time and air brings out a little citrus, lemon peel mostly, alongside some maraschino cherry. Like the nose, the alcohol is very well integrated and there’s only the faintest hint of white pepper spice right on the finish. We’re also getting a little more salinity now that the dram has opened up, salted caramel alongside a little more earthiness too. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has more cinnamon, dunnage warehouse funk, whipped cream, a little brown butter and brown sugar too. It’s slightly less salty than before, perhaps a little more cask forward. There’s also lots of chocolate still kicking around. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate shows more caramel, caramac bars, toffee, brown sugar, creme brûlée, lots more sweet oak. There’s also a bit of salinity still there, and some cherry jam. As well as the above, there’s still an earthy, mustiness in the background. Water hasn’t ruined the dram, but it feels a tad less complex than before. 

Conclusion

One of those drams that integrates spirit and cask so so well. The sherry isn’t overpowering, instead provides another interesting dimension to what is already a complex well made spirit. Being critical, the mouthfeel and finish are a tad thin/short, but it’s still really well made whisky.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

Yes, it is undeniably expensive, but it is sold out everywhere and, compared to the 30 year old, it almost looks like good value.

Springbank 12 Cask Strength (Batch 27 - 2025 Release)

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 55.9%

Price: £70.00

This year’s 1st release of Springbank 12 cask strength was matured in a mixture of bourbon casks (60%), Sherry (35%) and Rum (5%). No details on how many bottles were released. We did hear that it's become part of the core range and will be released twice yearly.

Nose

The nose opens with grilled lemon, fudge, sponge cake, muddled raspberries, and mellow peat smoke, sweet and a touch salty. The alcohol is nicely balanced, there’s a touch of black pepper but the nose really does jump out at you. Going back, we’re getting something slightly tropical, a touch of pineapple and some foam banana sweets. There’s not too many sherry-forward aromas coming through, perhaps a bit of cinnamon but it’s very mellow. 

Palate

The palate has a burst of vanilla cream, light brown sugar, lemon water, salted toffee, almond marzipan and wet earth. The smoke is subtle, coastal, a little vegetal, and sits nicely on the back palate. The mouthfeel is pretty great, oily, viscous.. it’s a dram that you keep chewing after swallowing, very mouth coating. There’s a bit of a spice kick in the form of cracked black pepper and a little crystallised ginger. Going back, we’re getting more minerality, more earthiness, some cocoa, and banana bread with walnuts baked in. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose brings forward pineapple, ripe banana, simple sugar syrup, lemon and a bit of melon too. There’s still a musty Campbeltown funk riding though, perhaps even a bit more smoke appearing too. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains the oily, viscous mouthfeel, and has lots of sweet candied lemon, salted caramel, fudge, cinnamon sugar doughnuts and whipped cream. The peppery spice is still present but not any more prominent than before. The finish still sticks around and keeps you chewing on it for minutes after sipping. 

Conclusion

Another solid 12 Cask Strength release from Springbank, we’re enjoying the twice yearly releases and as long as they keep up the quality, we’ll keep seeking these out. There’s more bourbon flavours and aromas here, with a little hint of topicality from the rum casks in the mix.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

As always, a total bargain if you can get it at RRP.

• 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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