Springbank Whisky Sponge Edition 60a & 60b
Decadent Drinks | 47% ABV
Score: 9/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
In a Rolls-Royce of Springbank, we have a winner
The S-Word
A week doesn’t go by it seems without something happening in the world of Springbank. A realm once populated by hardened and often disillusioned whisky enthusiasts sheltering from modern age whiskies with only a vicious appetite for Campbeltown produce. Nowadays, their numbers have been swelled by new generations, seeking mere drops of this special liquid, or others with more financial motivations.
It is what it is and I envisage that Macallan are casting a jealous eye towards Springbank, as it continues to dominate the whisky sphere and many of the secondary markets with little or no advertising outlay. For a distillery that didn’t engage greatly in advertising or the modern ways of selling its wares, there’s a certainly irony around its current situation. The greatest tool of all (word of mouth) has been caught and efficiently enslaved.
Things have reached a point where retailers are giving bottles to bars to sell by the dram, allocations are increasingly limited and ballots are the new medium of purchase. Even on our podcast, we’re at pains almost in every episode not to mention the S-word as our audience must be tired of all these shenanigans. Except, I doubt that you are.
Personally, Springbank is the distillery that I have the upmost respect for currently in production. The staunch reluctance to embrace new methods in a variety of forms is to be admired. As other producers have moved towards a more modern style of whisky (general expression) and methods of production. They’ve all become encamped in the same glen or valley. There’s a consistency and this familiarity has many whisky enthusiasts seeking the rogues, potholes and rollercoasters of today’s whisky world.
That’s a very convenient synopsis of where things are today, or heading towards. So, it comes as no surprise that a distillery such as Springbank and its variety of produce is now in high demand. And I’ve not even mentioned pricing! You’d be forgiven for thinking that this remote peninsula outpost would be more expensive at retail. Except the exact opposite is true and it shows that you can charge a fair price and still support a business, community and in doing so, not burn your audience for every last penny in their bank account.
But your opportunities to buy anything Springbank related are becoming scarcer as demand continues to grow and production cannot be scaled up – even if it could be dramatically, we’d still be years away from seeing any increased bottling programme. So, we are where we are and the only option is to make the best of the situation. One question I ask myself is after all this Springbank madness, which distillery is next? I’ll leave that one to you to decide.
I’d had to think of the going rate of a cask of Springbank nowadays in the private market. I knew the going rate a few years ago and it was already an impressive number. These casks in private hands are increasingly sought after and dwindling in number. Those individuals that decided to purchase casks from the distillery when it was struggling made a very astute investment. A win win. Some great whisky to enjoy to infinity or beyond, or a liquid goldmine when these casks do reach market.
I’m thankful to Decadent Drinks for the opportunity to try their latest two Springbank releases. I did see the ballot for 60a and was unsuccessful, which I’m happy to admit. Ballots are fair and as long as there is one entry per person, then lady luck may grace us or kick us down the road to the next ballot. So, let’s kick off with Edition 60a and see what all the fuss is about.
“One question I ask myself is after all this Springbank madness, which distillery is next? ”
Review
Sponge 60a, distilled 1994, bottled 2022, 27yo, 251 bottles, refill sherry hogshead, 47% ABV
Sold out
Score: 8/10
Something special.
TL;DR
Austere charms.
Nose
Tinned pineapple, honey and beeswax with a metallic aspect. I’m racking my head for the name of those soft, round and chewy fruity sweeties - it’ll come to me eventually or I’ll have to visit a newsagents. Old tea leaves, strawberry bon bons, fresh sage leaf and a discarded oil rag. Orange pips, candied lemon, playdough, scorched wood, dirty white mushrooms and wafers. Green mango and Lichen moss - when you used to build toy railways.
Palate
Subtle with an gentle oiliness, mechanical residue and a soft farm dynamic. Braised apples, cinnamon, Kiwi fruit and fudge. Caramel, old book binding, used cloves and lemon. Star anise, cinnamon and Szechuan peppercorns. Prickly in places but reminiscent of agave. Oily, chocolate flakes and stewed black tea.
Review
Sponge 60b, distilled 1995, bottled 2022, 26yo, 51.1% ABV
Sold out
Score: 9/10
Exceptional.
TL;DR
Delivers the knockout punch sis-style.
Nose
This is less immediate on the nose. Alka-Seltzer, something mineral once you dissolve those pills in water. Dried bark, mulch, bubblegum and some tropical fruitiness, briefly. Rust, old tea leaves and bashed mint leaves and lemon oil. Pine needles that have served their purpose come the end of December and throwing out that old tree. Hemp, tangerines and memories are revived of cleaning puke from a child’s car seat - it’s actually a good note when its subtle, like here. Figs and vanilla.
Palate
Jeez, coconut or an actual bloody Bounty bar all the way. That’s sold it for me. Buttery and tropical goodness now coming through. Doesn’t have that edge of the 60a, this feels more assured and refined, elegant. A Rolls Royce of Springbank. A decadent caramel, sage, raisins. Still on the black tea leaves but fresher. Sooty. Brass. Coal dust from my grans coal bunker - how I miss that place - perfect setting for a dram if I wasn’t 8 years old. Now, excuse me, I want to put down this pencil and just enjoy the moment.
The Dregs
So, yes, we have a winner in my opinion. However, if you managed to purchase either of these releases then you’re a winner regardless. I really enjoyed 60a with its austere charms. Then, 60b comes along and delivers the knockout punch sis-style. These are siblings but one clearly has the edge for me. And of the old Springbank’s that I’ve been fortunate to experience over too many years (some poured by Angus at The Whiskybase Gathering), this is the nearest I’ve gotten to that on a modern exponent. While we’re on the topic of near, this almost a 10 in my book and should be savoured if you’re a winner, please.
Score: 9/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. DM
-
Dramface is free.
Its fierce independence and community-focused content is funded by that same community. We don’t do ads, sponsorships or paid-for content. If you like what we do you can support us by becoming a Dramface member for the price of a magazine.
However, if you’ve found a particular article valuable, you also have the option to make a direct donation to the writer, here: buy me a dram - you’d make their day. Thank you.
For more on Dramface and our funding read our about page here.
Other opinions on this:
Got a link to a reliable review? Tell us.
