Springbank 26 yo 1993 ‘Japonism’ Sansibar for Shinanoya 51.4% vs Springbank 14 yo 2002 / 2016 Cadenhead 47.7%
Springbank 26 yo 1993 ‘Japonism’ Sansibar for Shinanoya 51.4%
A lean sort of Springbank, with less of that hot and dirty plus funky fruit character and instead more akin to straight saline, sandy bottomed algae pools and open petrol cans, only with a pronounced oak. Wet driftwood, composting leaves, and an aromatic woodsmoke as tangy as lit palo santo weaves in and out of the back of the nose. On the palate, the purity comes to the fore, despite the touches of cordial and golden raisins. Dry and lifting but not the biggest grip on the palate, and here it remains austere and understated. Not the first early 90s Springbank to tread this path. In all, this would be sensational but for the overly loud oak (to me). 89 pts
Springbank 14 yo 2002 / 2016 Cadenhead 47.7%
Right its got the minerals, the white smoke, the petrol and sharp salt air; And it wants to be a lean clean Springbank, but then some soap appears and then we get sucker punched by a chemical lilac. Fortunately its not extreme and the lemon and salt are straining to be heard. Beyond that, flashes of elemental seascape beckon, but unfortunately it is not a call we can follow far. This might be a contaminated sample, it happens from time to time, so no score shall be hazarded. Let’s just say good and evil can exist simultaneously.
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