‘For Ever Young Pristine’ (Springbank) 35 yo 1970 / 2005 Michel Couvreur 47%

Not everyday someone digs up and opens one of these! Immediately an older period of Springbank. Big and rich yet globally dry. The aromatics coming off this is as dark and silky as they come, and they enrobe these undeniable phenols like black oil, oily leather, coal and moist black earth lasciviously. Wood fire, and bruised plums on copper plates The palate bring a wall of black tea, tobacco leaf, oily teak wood, black peppercorns and licorice, all dry and intensely oaky-tannic. This is where the illusion fades a bit and suddenly it seems much more modern. Black cherries, maraschino, drips of bitter vermouth, patchouli powder and carbon paper. Charred wood chips, burnt prunes and unsweetened cola. Veers too much towards the bitter end of oak now. Would love to see the cask this came in. 89 pts