Springbank 18 Year 'RENEGADE' Mark Reynier's Bespoke Bottling

The intense blue cheese note is so strong it might polarize preferences. Springbank Springbank 18yo 'RENEGADE' Mark Reynier's Bespoke Bottling 46% one of 326 bottles, Sherry Hogshead The aroma features strong concentrated fruits, plum jam, firm red grapes and juice, a powerful blue cheese note, subtle sweet soy sauce-like elements and black sugar, rich, with a thick body. When drinking, it delivers dense fruits like plum jam and grape skins, a rich sweetness with a touch of bitterness, and the blue cheese note gradually intensifies. Very rich and full-bodied. ['Good/Very Good,Interesting'] This Springbank 18yo labeled as 'Mark Reynier's Bespoke Bottling' has an unknown bottling year. Since Mark Reynier is associated with Murray McDavid and the bottling was done at Bruichladdich, it's likely from a Murray McDavid cask. 'RENEGADE' means 'traitor,' but it's unclear what exactly makes this bottling a 'Renegade.' It's noted as Cask 003, but details about other casks are unknown. Though labeled as a Sherry Cask, it's remarkably rich and sweet compared to typical sherry casks. The aroma reveals concentrated fruits like jams, with elements of sweetness such as sweet soy sauce and black sugar emerging sequentially. When drinking, it delivers the expected dense fruits and sweetness, with a tannic grape skin bitterness adding depth. However, what truly defines this bottle is the strong, assertive blue cheese-like nuance present in both aroma and flavor. Indeed, Springbank and Longrow occasionally exhibit such blue cheese characteristics, but this bottling is particularly pronounced. The combination of rich sweet fruits and the blue cheese influence creates an exceptionally unique malt, so much so that it feels like a delicacy. Despite being watered down, it delivers a surprising thickness compared to its alcohol content. While not something I'd want to drink every time, this might be one I crave occasionally.