Finishing (also known as double matured or wood-finished) is the procedure that some whiskeys undergo whereby the spirit is matured in a cask of a particular origin and then spends time in a cask of different origin (generally 6 months to 2 years. This 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky has been 100% matured in Sherry oak casks and bottled at cask strength.

This dram would be compared to a Glengoyne 21 sherry or a dare I say a Glenfarclas 17, whereas the variety of flavors and the sherry influence increase the flavor profile of the whisky. Sherry is a sweet wine like flavor that most whisky aficionados sway from because they feel it deters from the flavor that the master distiller was intending this whisky to possess. Also some whisky drinkers prefer a peaty salty dram over that of one of sweetness.

Myself I love anything in a sherry cask. I feel those beautiful flavors of dark chocolate and sherry make any complex dram more approachable, and if there’s anything that we can learn from sherry, is that the better it tastes, the more bottles will sell, if you look at it from a purely marketing manor.

I have tried and own the Cask Strength 12 year old, the 18 year old and even the 21 year old, so I know the complex flavors that Springbank is known for. This dram, however, stood out on its own two feet. Away from its brothers and sister, providing distinct flavors that I personally love. Let’s delve into the actual tasting profile and see how wonderful this dram really is.

Name: Springbank 17 Year Sherry Wood Scotch

Region: Cambletown, Scotland

ABV: 52.3% – 104.6 Proof

Nose: Sherry, Dark Cherry Figs and nuts, Christmas cake spices, pepper, malted barley, oranges, dried fruits and heavenly vanilla cream.

Palate: Dark chocolate, plums and velvety nutmeg cream, coffee and toffee, creamy texture on the initial sip, blueberries and limes.

Finish: Long finish with spices and coffee, black licorice, and smoke. Sherry can be tasted on the back end.

 

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