Whisky Tasting : Springbank Local Barley

Catching up on a couple of tasting notes before the Best of the Best later this week. As a fan of Springbank I was looking forward to this one...

Couple of weeks ago we had a Springbank Local Barley tasting, these are quite distinctive yellow and black bottles from specific barley farms who supply Springbank. 

Springbank LB 11yo 02.2006-02.2017 53.1% 26 Bourbon casks 9000 bottles Bere barley Aros Farm

N: sweet, fruity, apples, limes, bourbon, oaky
P: very sweet, sticky, lemon, salt
F: long, citrus, tequila.

I liked this one, came 4th (8.39) but got an 8/10 from me.

Bruichladdich The Organic 2009 50% (mystery1)

N: bourbon, sweet, leathery, no sherry at all, solvent

P: sweet, warm, light

F: medium, tingly, peppery

Came 6th (7.57) wasn't very interesting - so a 6.5/10 from me.

S LB 10yo 07.2009 - 10.2019 56.2% 9000 bottles, 20 bourbon, 5 sherry 1 port casks, High Cattadale Farm Optic Barley

N: ozone, sweet, estuarine, smoke, oak

P: sherry, warm, rubber, salty bacon

F: medium, manuka honey, salty, warm

I liked this 8/10 (came 5th, 7.89), I liked the mix of salt and the warmth of the port in the background

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 50% 2020 (?) Mystery2

N: sweet, apples, pears, fruit, sherbert

P: dry, dishwater, parma violets

F: none. really short, hot

Definitely not a fan of this, really dull. Came 7th (7.17) and I gave it a 5/10. 

S LB 10yo 57.3% 06.2007-11.2017 9000 bottles, 18 bourbon, 8 sherry casks. West Backs far Belgravia Barley

N: sherry, nice, smooth, caramel, salted, starchy

P: wine, parma violets

F: med-long, hot

Meh, not a winner for me either, interesting nose, but after that a bit one dimensional. (3rd, 8.5 - so what do I know!), I gave it 6/10

S LB 9yo 07.2009-10.2018 57.7% 9700 bottles, 22 bourbon 6 sherry casks, high Cattadale Farm Optic Barley

N: vigorous, vegemite, buttery, salt, charred earth, damp cellar

P: lemonade, parma violets

F: medium, tingly, smokey

Came 1st overall (8.64), and I did like it a bit more 7/10, but I don't think it delivered on the promise of the nose.

S LB 16yo 09.1999 - 01.2016 54.3% 9000 bottles 24 bourbon 6 sherry casks, Low Machramore Farm Prisma barley (roughly NZD 1200 a bottle)

N: bandages, salt, medicinal, peat

P: old, smooth, old leather, savoury, bitter, cloves

F: long, salty, complex

Yeah I really liked this one, ticks a lot of Springbank boxes for me, 9/10 [came 2nd with 8.54].

I found this interesting, I'm not sure I picked up much variation in the barley, probably as the ages and casks types were mixed, but there was a lot of variation from one distillery. I don't know where the parma violets came from, but they were in a number of the samples. 

I think the 16yo was th eonly one which was 'Springbank' for me, but sadly as $1200 a bottle I'm unlikely to get one.

-B