Review #300 - ImpEx 1993 Springbank 25 Year
It isn't every day that we get to try a well-aged Springbank, but we were lucky to get a pour of this one at a local spirits store. This was bottled by ImpEx Beverages, which works as an importer in the US for a number of sought-after brands. They also have a limited number of their own bottlings, such as this one.
This spirit was matured for 25 years after distillation in 1993, and it was finished in Oloroso sherry casks; there isn't any information available about the original cask, but we're guessing it was of the ex-bourbon variety. After such a long maturation, only 135 bottles were left in the cask at a strength of 47.5% ABV.
ImpEx 1993 Springbank 25 Year
Scotland/Campbeltown - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 950 (2024)
Age Statement: 25 Years
Strength: 47.5% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in an ex-Oloroso sherry cask
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled November 6, 1993; bottled November 8, 2018; cask #94, 135 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time (blind tasting); bottle at 50% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Musty and rich, with old furniture wood; little hints of peat and cola, and a bit of grape. Sassafras and more oak develop, and with time, some dark chocolate.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel, with creamy texture and flavor. The peat smoke is mild, but we also get smoked rosemary, along with that musty note from the nose. Fruits of red grape and lemon meringue arrive along with spicy wine; air time leads to light floral notes.
Finish: Medium-long, quite subtle, with lingering soft smoke notes and a farmy, earthy character. Several layers to this, more musty notes, and there's a fizzy sensation in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Wow, gorgeous bottle. Springbank has an impressive ability to taste great at a wide range of ages - their entry level bottles around 10 years are great, and these older versions become more subtle and nuanced, but all the better for it. That musty, slightly funky Campbeltown character can still be found behind the oak, and the Oloroso finish did add some nice fruit flavors.
Like any well-aged Springbank (or really, any Springbank, for that matter), pricing is tricky because it's in such high demand. If you can find a bottle of this, it's going to cost around $1,000 or so, making value less attractive despite the great flavors.
Our Average Rating: 9.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 3.66
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
