Springbank – 12 Years Burgundy (70cl, 53.5%)

This is a 12 year old Springbank single malt, bottled at 53.5% in a 70cl bottle. The whisky was distilled in November 2003 and bottled in May 2016, in a run of 10,260 bottles. It was matured first in refill bourbon casks and then in refill Burgundy casks. The barley is dried for six hours over a peat fire and then for 24 hours in hot air, and the spirit is distilled two and a half times. The nose brings blackcurrants, blackberries and a light maple syrup sweetness, with pastry behind. The palate is soft and velvety, with chocolate, gentle toasted notes and a little oak. The finish is medium in length and dry, with mint and liquorice.