Springbank Official Private Bottling 'GLENKURA (Valley Warehouse)'

This private bottling was shrouded in mystery. Springbank SPRINGBANK 'GLENKURA' Official Private Bottling 47.6% The aroma is elegant, with notes of freeze-dried strawberries, fresh citrus, white wine, white flowers, gentle malt, and subtle vanilla. Upon drinking, it offers fresh citrus, a hint of grapefruit foam, freeze-dried strawberries, and a gentle wheatiness. The texture lingers on the tongue, accompanied by refined sweetness and good acidity, a solid brininess, medium-bodied with a long finish. [Very Good] This is an official private bottling from Springbank, labeled 'GLENKURA (Valley Warehouse).' The number of bottles produced appears to be extremely limited. According to the label, GLENKURA refers to an imaginary distillery mentioned in a book by J.David Simons. The kanji '谷蔵' (Valley Warehouse) is also used, though it's unclear who conceived this name. While the alcohol strength is slightly lower than typical cask-strength, no specifications were provided, allowing for an unbiased tasting experience. The aroma features nuances of freeze-dried strawberries, white grape notes from white wine, fresh citrus, and floral undertones—characteristic of a refined Springbank expression. The malt presence is clear but gentle, not harsh. On the palate, it offers a diverse array of fresh fruitiness and a subtle, lingering wheaty texture. The balance of sweetness and acidity is elegant, with briny elements that reflect classic Springbank characteristics. Considering the lack of specifications, it's challenging to determine details. Notes of strawberry evoke a traditional Bank style, while the malt and texture suggest some maturity. However, no obvious aging changes post-bottling were detected. Overall, the aroma and flavor profile suggest distillation around the early 1990s with bottling likely in the late 2000s—a bottle that shows surprising maturity for its age, with a reduced alcohol content. Undoubtedly delicious Springbank, this bottle was a joy to taste while imagining its history. This bottle was kindly provided by Bar Caruso in Shinjuku.