One night last May, I found myself at the temporary abode of tOMoH & JS, following on from an action-packed day and evening:
- Springbank Open Day 2018/
- Springbank Masterclass – That’s how it’s made
- The Directors Cut – The good, the bad and the ugly
- Springbank: [last year’s] New & Forthcoming
I tasted the whiskies below half blind [amazingly not yet drunk], gathering the finer details at the end. Notes for this session were relaxed.
Campbeltown Commemoration 1844-1923 Burnside 12yo [1985] Eaglesome 40% [5cl] WB89[1] tOMoH7/10
I’ve always wondered why these miniatures get overlooked at auction, and then stumbled across this: ‘,… this series was produced in 1985 It does not purport to contain whisky from the named distillery. The contents are incidental & not intended for consumption’ worthpoint.com. All the more for us then!
- N: This isn’t tea-spooned Balvenie, the name relates to the old Burnside distillery in Campbeltown, established in 1825. In actual fact it smells more like a Clynelish.
- T: Clynelish confirmed on the palate too.
- F: Lime cubes and coal smoke is all I noted.
- C: I love this. Further reading: lostdistillery.com.
Scores 88 points

Campbeltown Commemoration 1844-1923 Argyll 12yo Eaglesome 40% [5cl] WB94[1] tOMoH7/10
Bottled as a tribute to the old Campbeltown distilleries, I noted Henley Wright as someone connected with these replicate vatted malts – tOMoH?
- N: O&R vibes, fruit candy, fruit bar juice?, some grist, a lovely fustiness, glue, ppm hints,…
- T: Big-to-light Lochside-esque style spirit with smokey hints – unless it’s those Longrow’s from 8-9 hours ago?
- F: The nose & arrival suggests an older spirit, yet the finish demonstrates otherwise.
- C: Old then young. Further reading: lostdistillery.com.
Scores 85 points

Loch Lomond 1984/2017 33yo cask #13287 [120 bts] 47.9% WB88.50[30] tOMoH8/10
A photocopied label decorates the sample bottle. A nice touch.
- N: Dense nutty putty fusty shortbread.
- T: Sweetish putty & hay.
- F: A short finish on honeyed putty.
- C: I wrote “Three men in a boat”, but can’t tell you or remember why. It was a filthy fun night.
From memory, I scored it around 87.
Glentauchers 1976/2017 41yo Cadenhead Authentic Collection bourbon HHD CS [126 bts] 42% WB91.27[17] WF91 tOMoH9/10
Another sample bottle decorated with a photocopied label, just what I used to do with my audio tapes.
- N: An oozing fruit pie served with more ripe, very ripe soft fruits.
- T: Same beautiful qualities.
- F: Bitter oily/waxy with liquorice hints.
- C: Top dollar though water drowns it. My scoring ranged from 88 to 90+.
Scores 90 points
Glencadam 1964/1979 14yo Cadenhead 45.7 GL/80 proof [75cl] WB87.75[4] WF86 tOMoH9/10
- N: Dunnage fruits personified.
- T: Unsurprising spirity given we followed a 41yo with 14. Evolves on a bone-dry sweet grapefruit fruitiness.
- F: Sweet dry grapefruit,…
- C: Context is everything. Despite my scant notes, this is a hugely pleasing malt in its entirety. We peak as hysterics set in.
Scores 89 points
Lochside 1964/2015 48yo Cooper’s Choice Sherry cask #6799 [540 bts] 41.2% WB89.44[68] tOMoH[n/a]
- N: Now in the wee small hours, I realise I’ve been taking notes since 10am and know I’m not in the best state to receive such a grand oldie. Hey ho! This one speaks of a scented wax candle, bananas, cedar wood, pine needles,…
- T: A lovely, light yet oaky peppery rum-like distillate arrival and movement toward a light body with a little char.
- F: Waxy banana is all I noted.
- C: I found this a little lacking in comparison to the Glencadam, but we are all struggling with energy after a long long day. [Check out Bishlouk’s notes on WB]. It’s time for bed.
Scores 87 points
With thanks as ever to tOMoH & co.
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END
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“I noted Henley Wright as someone connected with these replicate vatted malts”
Hedley Wright is the owner of Springbank, and the mastermind behind this. Despite what that worthpoint.com link says, I hear from a reliable source that the contents are indeed meant to replicate the original juices. More words here:
https://theoldmanofhuy.blogspot.com/2018/05/26052018-one-dram-while-waiting-for.html
What a cracking night this was. 🙂
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Cracking indeed. Looking forward to Campbeltown 2019!
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