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Springbank 10 Year Old

The springbank standard

0 1486

@AlexswedenReview by @Alexsweden

2nd Oct 2016

0

Springbank 10 Year Old
  • Nose
    20
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    86

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

I appreciate the work being done at Springbank distillery. Small-time, handcrafted and traditional. It is quite unique both in style and in practice. Lets try the 10!

Nose

freshly poured there is a note of fresh paint that dissipates almost instantly. It is a bit waxy but not disturbingly so and it fades away with a bit of time in the open air.

Sweet malt and sour candies like rhubarb. Engine oil and the very faintest whiff of smoke. The smoke is there and it grows more pronounced but takes a long time to do so. It is a dirty smoke, more industrial than maritime.

Palate

It has a mature and powerful arrival. It is not sugary sweet but has a very "dark" sweetness. Dark honey, Dark baking syrup, Demerara sugar. Bitter grape seeds.

With water the arrival turns quite intensely tropical with fruits that develop into very dark sherry raisins and jarred figs in cognac. Almonds. It requires some patience to let this one open up.

Finish

Burnt Tobacco, cigar, Brown sugar, salty and a bit dry. Also the Almonds carries through to a nutty note as it dies away.

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14 comments

T
Taco commented

I enjoy this whisky, but only buy a bottle about every other year. It has such a different profile from most scotches that I only have an occasional interest in it. That said, everyone should definitely try it. In fact, I think I'm coming up on time for another buy!

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Aside from the difference of 2 years and the ABV, is there a significant difference from the profile of the 12 CS?

I would love to try this once, but not sure I need a bottle if I have the 12 CS, not that either are currently available at LCBO...

8 years ago 0

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

They're quite different. The 12 CS is more sherried, heavier, sweeter. The 10 is brisker, fresher, cleaner.

I just bought another 12 CS, but really what I wish I coulda bought is a 10 CS! I really miss the 10/100.

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

I have no experience with the CS but this one isn't bad at al!

8 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

This, for me, is the best non-peated 10-12 year old there is. Love it! Improves considerably after having been open for a while. Not a starter whisky. It's a bit of an acquired taste.

Nice review @Alexsweden. Although, I would go high 80s possibly even 90 points on the right day. Cheers

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

I can imagine it improves with time. Letting it breathe in the glass develops the taste nicely so I'll look forward to having it over time and see how it changes.

8 years ago 0

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

BlueNote, I agree. Best non-peated 10-12-year-old out there.

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

I believe that this is lightly peated. With longrow being more heavily peated and Hazelburn the non-peated offering from springbank distillery.

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

That was my understanding of the Springbank line. Maths 12 CS is definitely infused with peat. I had not tried the 10 so couldn't be sure, thanks for confirming.

8 years ago 0

T
Taco commented

Definitely has some peat, but not Islay style. More like what you find in HP 12.

8 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

Just had a sip and yes, there is a hint of peat, but it is quite far down in the overall flavour profile (at least to my taste buds). @Taco, I agree with your HP 12 comparison, but I would still classify both as essentially non-peated whiskies.

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Definitely not islay style. I would classify both this and HP12 as lightly peated whiskies. HP12 being more peated than the springbank

8 years ago 0

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

@Nozinan , did you ever get the Springbank 10?

7 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Ol_Jas Not yet. Probably won't for a while unless a good deal at LCBO. But I wouldn't turn away a dram if offered.

7 years ago 0