Springbank Local Barley 11 [Link to Springbank]
Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 53.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon
Colour: Light Gold
Nose: Dried Apricot, peach, fibrel cereal, ethanol, smoked plum, white flower, salted butter, green tea, citrus rind, tic tac vanilla
Palate: Ashy peat, butter, salt, lemon curd, faint dried cherry, cured meat
Finish: Long finish, sweet cereal, mineral
Score: 87/100
Springbank Local Barley 16
Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 80% ex-Bourbon, 20% ex-Sherry
Colour: Light Gold
Nose: Syrupy, white grape, faint buttery smoke, dried apricot, vanilla, anise, popcorn
Palate: Smoked meat, tar, peat, lemon, mineral, honey, vanilla
Finish: Long finish, ash, orange peel, more mineral
Score: 85/100
The local barley expressions are supposed to show the terrior of the barley. The 11 year old is made with made with Bere barley from Aros Farm, while the 16 is made with barley grown at Low Machrimore Farm in Southend.
Overall I liked the 11 more than the 16, its more complex, better integrated aromas and flavour. They both took a while to open up, showing a very similar profile.
I wish Springbank would have aged both barley types in similar ex-bourbon casks and age, and label the barley on the label (kind of like how wine labels are, showing the vineyard and varietal). That way would be the closest we can do to try out different profile of the barley.