Springbank – 24 Year Old (Westie Sponge 3) (54.5%)

This is Westie Sponge Three, a 24 year old Springbank from a first fill sherry butt of 1999 whisky. It was matured fully in Campbeltown and bottled at natural cask strength, 54.5%. It is a powerful, rugged Springbank, coastal and salty, with a leathery, nutty and almost tarry sherry character over waxiness, mineral oils and soft background peat smoke. The nose offers tarred leather, smoked walnuts, pipe tobacco and dried dark fruits. The palate is waxy and tarry, with sandalwood, cured meats, candied citrus peel and walnut wine, moving to smoked olive oil, salted almonds and eucalyptus-like peat. The finish is very long, with squid ink, tar liqueur, fir resin and camphor.