Springbank (Longrow) 1994 North Star 25 years 48.5% (refill exbourbon hogshead)

Part of North Star’s recent Springbank lineup. Labelled as Springbank, peated and double distilled. Both Springbank and North Star are highly respected and popular, so as expected, it flew off the shelves…

Colour Light honey.

Nose An immediate attack of banana, rockmelon, pawpaw, and star anise. Springbank funk: rubbery and herbal. Cookies and cream ice cream and stem ginger. Vegetal peat and a touch of smoke: smoked mushrooms. Vanilla and white chocolate. Pineapple. Incredible. Intoxicatingly fruity, herbal, and rubbery, as if it’s got a texture.

Palate Spicy. Hot chilies. So malty, with that rubbery Springbank character. Anise and caraway, lapsang souchong and watermelon. Cherries and ripe bananas. Yoghurt and rosewater. Textured milk and floral notes. Oily. Complex.

Finish Regal peat, smoke and tires. Tropical fruits and black tea again. Dark chocolate. Moderately long but very warming.

Comments Technically flawless stuff. Ridiculous amounts of ripe tropical fruits. Regal peatsmoke and the classic rubbery Springbank character. One of the most complex, balanced drams out there. 94/100.

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