Springbank – 1997 20 Year Old The Maltman Single Cask (70cl, 55.8%)

This is a 20 year old Springbank, distilled in April 1997 and matured for more than two decades in a single sherry cask. It was bottled in September 2017 by The Maltman, the independent bottler series from Meadowside Blending, at cask strength, 55.8%, in a 70cl bottle. The outturn was 276 bottles, without chill-filtration or added colour. The nose combines strong malt with an intense Oloroso influence and dark, ripe aromas. On the palate it turns drier and spicier, with malted barley, dark chocolate, liquorice, kumquat and roasted notes. The long finish brings roasted hazelnuts, red grapes and lingering smoke.