New Release: Springbank 10 Year Old Official 'Local Barley' 57.3%

It's something to look forward to every year, but the flavor is quite different this time. Springbank SPRINGBANK 10yo OB 'Local Barley' 57.3% bottled in 2017 The aroma is intense with concentrated notes of orange marmalade, custard cream and oil, strong peat reminiscent of tar, a solid mineral quality, roasted salted peanuts and a pronounced oak. When you drink it, it has viscosity and thickness with a powerful attack, sweet honey-like richness, oaky tannins, a solid briny character, full-bodied with rich umami flavors, peaty and oily with a long finish. [Good/Very Good] This is the latest release of Springbank Local Barley bottled in 2017, aged for 10 years. It is already available overseas and I believe it will officially be released in Japan early next spring. This marks the third release since Local Barley's revival two years ago. The first was a 16-year-old, more traditional and plain style that showcased the original spirit and house style. The second was an 11-year-old made with naked barley, surprisingly light and fruity. This third release is a type that showcases the house style along with a significant influence from the cask. Perhaps due to its traditional production methods, including floor malting, Springbank has always offered a diverse range of aromas, even with some roughness. However, this particular release has an especially rich complexity that makes it feel like more than just a 10-year-old. Rather than the aroma being simply due to the Local Barley base spirit, it feels like a special base spirit that was aged in a good cask with intention. Personally, I prefer Springbank with less cask influence, but the combination of strong cask character, diverse base spirit, and full-bodied structure makes this a well-crafted Springbank that is surprisingly good for its specifications.