Springbank 1999 / 11 Year Old / Sherry Cask

Nose: Wonderful classical old-style sherry aromas - didn't know you could still get casks like this! Gamey and rich, with woodglue and heavy sweet stewed fruit. Impressively pruney for a whisky of this comparative youth. Also quite oaky (in a good way), with treacle toffee, blackberries and autumn leaves. Delightful.

Palate: Full-bodied - big waves of very assertive, oaky mocha and bitter chocolate, then some damson jam, followed by a massive surge of sweet sherry oakiness. Serious depth, but you have to like sherried whisky, as this is pretty extreme.

Finish: Drying and still quite oaky with fading dark fruit and spice.

Comment: A monster – and at such a young age! Almost overpoweringly sherried, but a lot of fun.

Colour: Dark copper

Nose: Lively, with some glue, raisins, warm leather, 'proper' sticky cocktail cherries and a layer of woody smoke underneath it all, as a warm and meaty base.

Taste: Big, rich and spicy up front, with cigar tobacco and cedar boxes, cinnamon, clove and aniseed. It has a chunk of fruit in the middle that quickly dries out and becomes slightly tannic, with a hint of red grape skin and sour cherry jam.

Finish: lingering dry wood and smoke, stewed cherries and eccles cake raisins. It all turns meaty as it fades, with roast beef crispy bits popping up.