I walked into the store Monday and saw Springbank (10) stocked for the 1st time in over a year… The browsing stopped after my eyes saw the orange label. Game over👏
It used to be that "18 Year" was your guide to finding the really complex and special drams. With rare exception, "18 Year" is fast becoming little more than a status symbol. With the help of the internet and UA-cam channels like this one, it's easy to find the same Wow Factor with a "10 Year" or "12 Year" label attached to it. Luxury malts like these are rightly about the experience of tasting, not just displaying in a cabinet.
Bought a bottle of Springbank 10 yesterday for £57 in Elgin, Gordon Macphail shop on the highstreet. Great guy in there and he knows a vast amount of knowledge. He put me onto Longrow on my last visit. Get in there quick before I return for another Springbank. Cheers Ralfy
i waited 20 years to see my fave G SCotia to come forth - that "wet socks" smell , fusile and cakey from a 46% Signatory line in 2002-2003 ! . . . still have a case, so I will pop ONE for 2023 ! ! thx Ralfy .
Got my very first Springbank today, found it online and bought he 10 years. I’m happy even if it’s expensive, but I made myself a Christmas gift. I am confident about Ralfy's reviews and tried different of his suggestions. So I'm looking forward to sip that Springbank. PS: I was shocked and still am about a review of a guy that said that the Springbank 10 is good for mixing. Halleluja! Dear Ralfy, thank you for your videos, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
As usual, your recommendations are fantastic expressions that any serious whisky drinker would enjoy. This is the value of UA-cam where we get honest and valuable information. I might add that anyone who has not seen the OSWA winners (or even the nominees) is missing out on a great list of recommendations that wouldn't have been available to us without the hard work you and Roy put in. Thanks.
Having so many choices and options to wade through is much better than the alternative!! But your'e right- someone has to do it. And why not you? Love the channel.
I currently have Springbank 10 in my collection. In my area, Springbank 10 and 15 are sporadically available. Springbank is more costly relative to other whiskies in the same age range, and the 15-year is a bit too expensive. Recently, on the same day, I saw Springbank 15 and Balblair 15. I went for Balblair 15, as it was less than half the price of Springbank 15, and I think it was money well spent. I also have Deanston 12 and 15 (organic) in my collection. Both of those are excellent. I also sometimes order Deanston 12 at a local fancy restaurant/bar. It is very food friendly; it pairs well with seafood and poultry. The 18-year sometimes turns up in my area. After I run down one of the other bottles of Deanston, I might look for it. I remember it being around the same price as many other 18-year whiskies.
That Balblair 15 needs to be on people's radar. Such great oak on it, right down to that minty / herbal note that often gets lost in refill casks. Extraordinary. I found Deanston 18 really heavy on the bourbon influence, to the point that you're getting a lot of the sweet and bubblegummy flavors that are common with corn based spirit. I just happen to prefer barley whisky to corn whisky, so Deanston 12 is more in my wheelhouse. But that's just my own tastes.
I’m officially ignoring Springbank until they get off themselves and start to show up without needing a raffle or for 25% more than I am willing to pay. They’re becoming a snob malt like Macallan.
I picked up the Deanston after your review a couple videos back. You gave it a 90 and I would say that was too low! Its one of the best spirits I have tasted to date. Just fantastic,.
My cousin gifted me a Springbank 10 a few years back, and ever since then, I've been hooked. I didn't quite enjoy scotch then because I used to only drink tequila, and my palate was not acclimated to scotch. Now scotch is the only alcohol I'll drink besides the occasional brew. I love deanston 18. I consistently find it for under 100 usd. I have yet to try Victoriana from Glen Scotia, but I do see it frequently for 80 usd sometimes less. Might give it a try as I do enjoy some of Glen Scotia's seasonal releases.
Ralfy, I so agree that Glen Scotia is an underrated distillery and have all their offerings locally on my bar (the Victoriana, the 15year old and the double cask). Until recently the double cask was fantastically priced (it was under $60CAD) but the price hiked and now it’s just over $70 :( the Glen Scotia 15 also offers exceptional value and it’s about 20% cheaper than the Victoriana here - but the Victoriana definitely has that something special going on especially when you add the right amount of water - definitely not a beginners’ dram but well worth the journey!
Finally managed to grab a Springbank 10 a few days back. Small independent chain has a couple of shops within 20 mins of me (I'm in Perth) and they had 2 left so went out and got one. Any of the few that still pop up online, sellers sadly just ripping the pish with pricing.
I was expecting 20yr old total unaffordium! Good selection. I bought a bottle of the Glen Scotia 15yr old and have been impressed. There’s a lot of high quality malt at less than £100 a bottle and I’m enjoying looking for that next gem….
I am very happy to share your recommendations 100%. These are my three favourite drams and fortunately they are all in my shelf and they are all opened and in process of being enjoyed in full. SB10 has been a favourite for years, but so hard to find! And it will not be any easier after this... 🙂 I am now looking forward to Xmas enjoying some Deanston 18 while reading your third book - both presents to me from Father Xmas 🎅
I chuckled when Ralfy said "you're probably in the US" when talking about Springbank. I stumbled upon the Springbank 15 in a little shop in Florida in 2020. Last bottle on the shelf and it was $100. A year later I picked up a Springbank 10 at Costco, of all places. And they had multiple cases. I think it was$90. Not sold where I live, so a no brainier. At least with Springbank we know that there truly are a limited number of bottles, so it's worth hunting. With some of the so called allocated bourbons I really doubt they're as limited.
Hadn't picked up a Victoriana this year because I thought the batch wouldn't be as good as last year's, which was incredible. Very glad to hear my suspicions may have been dead wrong.
I returned from a trip to Japan a few weeks ago and was able to try these and more at just one whisky bar in Tokyo... and there are dozens of great whisky bars in Tokyo. My go-to city for trying new and hard to find whisky at reasonable prices.
Managed to try a glass of Springbank at a Whisky bar in Liverpool (The Puffin Room, excellent selection of whisky). also tried a glass of Laphroaig Lore. Springbank was very good (and subsequently i was lucky to find a bottle for sale online) but i was mightily impressed by the Lore. I still cant bring myself to pay that much for a bottle of NAS whisky, though... For me the Deanston is gobsmackingly good at a good price.
I feel happy and lucky to get at least one of these expressions, let's hope that by 2023 there'll be at least 2 of them 🙏.... Fingers crossed, Thanks for the recommendation Ralfy.. Cheers 🥃
Love all three of these. Really enjoyed the warehouse selection tasting I did at Glen Scotia, very varied and tasty whiskies. Well worth doing (along with Springbank of course)
On your recommendation. Bought Deanston 18yo and Glen Scotia Victoriana, but could not locate the SB10yo... Just tried the Deanston - wickedly good whisky!!!
Gosh Ralfy - that Deanston 18yo is immensely good! I was drinking some Steamship Bushmills and changed to the Deanston 18yo and my socks eneded up in the next room! Gobsmacked.........
Thanks Ralfy for the wonderful recommendation! You are right! Lots of good bottles is coming our in the holiday season.Thanks for the review 949 extra. Now Springbank 10, 15, 18 is still relatively affordable in the US, but the price is still jacking up too much compared to a few years ago. We need to pay at least twice of the price now for a bottle of Springbank. For Springbank 21 yo and up, oh no~~~~really out of my Mr. wallet capacity, can't afford it.
The only one that I might be able to find here in British Columbia is a Deanston and even that I'm not sure about the 18. Springbank is very rare. I have bought it in the past but I haven't seen it in years. As for Glen Scotia . . . never. I have my eye on a Glencadam 18 though. That would be nice I think.
ralfy, Great 3. I happen to have all 3, on my second bottles of the Victoriana and the SB 10, haven't cracked the Deanston 18 yet but real soon. Thanks and CHEERS!
I have to say i love my heavily peated whiskies, but i must concur the Victoriana and Deanston 18 are beautiful, complex drams. Im new to your channel and already enjoying your reviews. Excellent stuff sir!
Hi Ralfy Thanks for those recommendations! Springer 10yo and Deanston 18yo i already know they're amazing whiskys. The Victoriana i'have to try, but i discovered the Glen Scotia 15yo this year. Also a great, old style whisky that i can highly recommend to all of you! Slàinthe, Chris
You are a martyr Ralfy. I have just opened a bottle of Wormtub 10 year old batch 4. Can’t afford Springbank so I will have to force it down somehow and dream of winning a premium bond.
Im happy to have a shop in my City, that dont want to go Crazy with the prices. I could buy a springbank 10 for 80€ and the same with a Kilkerran 8 sherry Wood. In other shops i pay 100€ an more for the Springbank 10 an 160€ up for the Kilkerran.❤
Looks like 3 really good choices. I've tried Springbank and it's fantastic. About Glen Scotia. My brother told me long time ago that the Glen Scotia distillery were closed because it was haunted? :) I guess that was just a marketing trick if that happened? :)
Love this! Would you ever be interested in reviewing Norwegian Aquavit? I quite like the Lysholm Throndhjems Aquavit (aged 3 years). Gilde Non Plus Ultra has been aged 12 years.
@@peatbull3426 yeah they sometimes offer a big discount on their ‘subscribe and save’ and as soon as you receive it you can cancel the subscription and there’s no fees 😉
@@peatbull3426 you folk get to buy liquor on amazon in Europe?! ☹️ Being American makes malty moments tougher to come by from across the pond unfortunately! What a deal!
Springbank, GOOD. Deanston, GOOD! Glen Scotia, huh? Ok, I am game. I hope you will expand on this list of offerings from these distilleries, or expand your list to include other distilleries for 2023.
2 of 3 I already have. Got the Springbank Ten also €35 less than the price at a good big online vendor in The Netherlands, which hadn’t it in stock. I prefer the Glen Scotia 15 though. I don’t like NAS, and the reviews about the Victoriana are good, but better of the 15. No wonder, the 15 is seriously good and affordable. 2 out of 3 Campbeltown. Maybe an episode about an affordable topper from every region would also be nice, including islands.
I don’t dismiss it, the 15 is better though. It’s often the case with NAS, it’s good, but not as good as their age statement flagship. If you follow Ralfy regularly, you might notice that pattern.
@@MrChristopherMolloy- Opinions of quality or value are no excuse to withhold factual production information from paying customers. I don't care about anybody's gushing adjectives, whether "fabulous" or "delicious", because adjectives are a dime a dozen and aren't interchangeable with real production information, and I won't trade the latter for the former. If some NAS products were supposedly "good enough" in someone's opinion somewhere, could producers withhold ABV as well and give me 10 "wonderful" adjectives instead? It isn't the quality or value that's inferior with some NAS products, it's the thinking and marketing.
@@MrChristopherMolloy - Oh, I know producers can't withhold ABV by law, but my question was, could they withhold it if it were up to you if it resulted in another "delicious" product - the further point being, what actual production information would we have left if it can be taken away because of claims of "quality, value and flexibility"? It seems to me that it would be OK with you, because what's the real difference in the logic? If something tastes good, the whisky industry can do whatever it wants in terms of production information. If I have you wrong, then I'll ask it again and maybe you'll actually answer this time, WOULD it be alright with you if producers withheld ABV so long as somebody, somewhere, said a product was delicious? What else wouldn't customers "need to know" so long as someone, somewhere, said a product was "good"? And, to be honest, I know a fair bit about scotch whisky regulations. For example, I know that The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (Amended in 2019) are established by the UK government and AREN'T laid out by the SWA. The Scotch Whisky Association is a trade organization and lobby group, NOT a regulatory body, no matter how much the SWA likes to pretend that it governs whisky and that its ever-present threat to take anyone who disagrees with it to court somehow makes it town sheriff. As for what to do about NAS, you suppose wrongly. The problem isn't with the companies, it's with the NAS marketing they only sometimes use and the level of production information that consumers should instead have, which is why NAS marketing should be rejected, and not those products that don't use it. There's no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater, just as there's no need to swallow every marketing line the industry throws down the pike about how poor "master blenders" have "their hands tied" over legislation around age information that, as Compass Box found out, that industry has no interest in actually reforming/improving and said was "fit for purpose". Many of the same people complaining about the current rules are also those who support them (but didn't make them law). It's impossible for any company to be the "victim" of rules that it actually supports - it's a racket, made to prop up NAS.
@@MrChristopherMolloy - You won't answer it because it betrays how silly the excuses for NAS are - and you're too petty to simply answer the question one way or the other. Such is the "logic" of giving up production information in exchange for somebody somewhere calling something "delicious". Saying NAS is "a thing" says nothing, and it's patently ridiculous that age supposedly "doesn't matter" to a product which is aged beyond legal minimums PRECISELY BECAUSE of the difference age maturation makes - so you can forget about all the other ridiculous crap that no one asked for in the first place. Age is fundamental to whisky character, which is exactly why every producer tracks it with every cask produced; those who don't know that really don't know anything about whisky. The choice right now is between NAS, age statements and vintage dating (distilled in/bottled in). No one in the whisky industry has any right to complain about the "fairness " of regulations that they have no real interest in reforming. Legal minimums and actual age are obviously different things, so calling everything a "3" solves nothing; your oversimplifying my position to match the simplistic nature of your own isn't a remedy. What you buy, how much you pay for it and how many glowing adjectives you apply to it are still no excuse to withhold age information from anyone, including yourself.
@@MrChristopherMolloy - No, you didn't answer it - you ducked three times and we both know that - and, if your position could actually be defended, you would have. 🐔
If any of you ever cross a Victoriana and don't pick it up, you've made a huge mistake. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a cask strength Victoriana and it is one of the most superb whiskies I've ever had.
IMHO, Luxury Whisky is to be incomparable & exclusive. A 20+ year old thorough sherry cask Glen Ord, Bowmore, Lagavulin, Benrinnes, Mortlach, Caol Ila or Glenrothes from one of the following bottlers is ultimate luxury - 1. The Nectar 2. Adelphi 3. Gordan & Macphail 4. Berry & Rudd 5. Signatory 6. The Collective These bottlers beat Diageo's market bottles left and right. I am happy to pay $499 for one of the above, than pay $299 for Diageo's 40% bottle.
I spoke to a rep for a big online retailer, and they confirmed that regular Springbank offerings are back in stock and increasing in supply. However, they are withholding bottles from their online shop for their brick and mortar stores to combat scalping, so go to a brick and mortar store and have a gander inside or call up a store beforehand and inquire. Its nice to see that the scalping blight from the pandemic is starting to die down for these core range spirits.
the Glen Scotia is a luxury malt for me, i have not tasted anything better to date, havent opened the springbank 10 as yet and can not get the Deanston 18 in australia
You're a trooper Ralfy. All those hardships just for us 😀👍
The man’s a saint. 😢
We truly do not deserve his dedication.
I walked into the store Monday and saw Springbank (10) stocked for the 1st time in over a year… The browsing stopped after my eyes saw the orange label. Game over👏
It used to be that "18 Year" was your guide to finding the really complex and special drams. With rare exception, "18 Year" is fast becoming little more than a status symbol. With the help of the internet and UA-cam channels like this one, it's easy to find the same Wow Factor with a "10 Year" or "12 Year" label attached to it. Luxury malts like these are rightly about the experience of tasting, not just displaying in a cabinet.
Thanks Ralfy, I much appreciate your hard work and commitment to your malt mates!🙂👍
Bought a bottle of Springbank 10 yesterday for £57 in Elgin, Gordon Macphail shop on the highstreet. Great guy in there and he knows a vast amount of knowledge. He put me onto Longrow on my last visit. Get in there quick before I return for another Springbank. Cheers Ralfy
Wow, good price, well done. I've got myself some early Christmas present, 250£ on the table for the 18yo. What a smash!
i waited 20 years to see my fave G SCotia to come forth - that "wet socks" smell , fusile and cakey from a 46% Signatory line in 2002-2003 ! . . . still have a case, so I will pop ONE for 2023 ! ! thx Ralfy .
Got my very first Springbank today, found it online and bought he 10 years. I’m happy even if it’s expensive, but I made myself a Christmas gift. I am confident about Ralfy's reviews and tried different of his suggestions. So I'm looking forward to sip that Springbank. PS: I was shocked and still am about a review of a guy that said that the Springbank 10 is good for mixing. Halleluja!
Dear Ralfy, thank you for your videos, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
Ralphy is the guy to go to because he knows his craft. Thank you for your time and help!❤
As usual, your recommendations are fantastic expressions that any serious whisky drinker would enjoy. This is the value of UA-cam where we get honest and valuable information. I might add that anyone who has not seen the OSWA winners (or even the nominees) is missing out on a great list of recommendations that wouldn't have been available to us without the hard work you and Roy put in. Thanks.
😊👍
Lol. 'Whisky soldier'... That's a UA-cam channel there. Love these recommendations...luxury and value!
Having so many choices and options to wade through is much better than the alternative!! But your'e right- someone has to do it. And why not you? Love the channel.
Haven't seen Springbank locally here for at least 3 years now. By local I mean the entire country...
I currently have Springbank 10 in my collection. In my area, Springbank 10 and 15 are sporadically available. Springbank is more costly relative to other whiskies in the same age range, and the 15-year is a bit too expensive. Recently, on the same day, I saw Springbank 15 and Balblair 15. I went for Balblair 15, as it was less than half the price of Springbank 15, and I think it was money well spent. I also have Deanston 12 and 15 (organic) in my collection. Both of those are excellent. I also sometimes order Deanston 12 at a local fancy restaurant/bar. It is very food friendly; it pairs well with seafood and poultry. The 18-year sometimes turns up in my area. After I run down one of the other bottles of Deanston, I might look for it. I remember it being around the same price as many other 18-year whiskies.
That Balblair 15 needs to be on people's radar. Such great oak on it, right down to that minty / herbal note that often gets lost in refill casks. Extraordinary.
I found Deanston 18 really heavy on the bourbon influence, to the point that you're getting a lot of the sweet and bubblegummy flavors that are common with corn based spirit. I just happen to prefer barley whisky to corn whisky, so Deanston 12 is more in my wheelhouse. But that's just my own tastes.
I’m officially ignoring Springbank until they get off themselves and start to show up without needing a raffle or for 25% more than I am willing to pay. They’re becoming a snob malt like Macallan.
I picked up the Deanston after your review a couple videos back. You gave it a 90 and I would say that was too low! Its one of the best spirits I have tasted to date. Just fantastic,.
My cousin gifted me a Springbank 10 a few years back, and ever since then, I've been hooked. I didn't quite enjoy scotch then because I used to only drink tequila, and my palate was not acclimated to scotch. Now scotch is the only alcohol I'll drink besides the occasional brew. I love deanston 18. I consistently find it for under 100 usd. I have yet to try Victoriana from Glen Scotia, but I do see it frequently for 80 usd sometimes less. Might give it a try as I do enjoy some of Glen Scotia's seasonal releases.
Thanks for this one. You usually do entry level easy to find recommendations.
Ralfy, I so agree that Glen Scotia is an underrated distillery and have all their offerings locally on my bar (the Victoriana, the 15year old and the double cask). Until recently the double cask was fantastically priced (it was under $60CAD) but the price hiked and now it’s just over $70 :( the Glen Scotia 15 also offers exceptional value and it’s about 20% cheaper than the Victoriana here - but the Victoriana definitely has that something special going on especially when you add the right amount of water - definitely not a beginners’ dram but well worth the journey!
Finally managed to grab a Springbank 10 a few days back. Small independent chain has a couple of shops within 20 mins of me (I'm in Perth) and they had 2 left so went out and got one. Any of the few that still pop up online, sellers sadly just ripping the pish with pricing.
We appreciate...
Your sacrifices are appreciated ! Keep forging on.
I was expecting 20yr old total unaffordium! Good selection. I bought a bottle of the Glen Scotia 15yr old and have been impressed. There’s a lot of high quality malt at less than £100 a bottle and I’m enjoying looking for that next gem….
Great choices Ralfy, “Malt Mate”!
Nice picks Ralfy! Some other good ones: Glenallachie 10 cask strength, Bunnahabhain 18 and Ledaig 18
Huge fan of Deanston whisky, great recommendation
I am very happy to share your recommendations 100%. These are my three favourite drams and fortunately they are all in my shelf and they are all opened and in process of being enjoyed in full. SB10 has been a favourite for years, but so hard to find! And it will not be any easier after this... 🙂 I am now looking forward to Xmas enjoying some Deanston 18 while reading your third book - both presents to me from Father Xmas 🎅
Thanks so much for these top three videos. Very helpful! All the best Ralph! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the list Ralfy!
best selection, thanks
Springbank. I did exactly as you said and visited my local whisky shop in Arbroath. They only had the one bottle
I chuckled when Ralfy said "you're probably in the US" when talking about Springbank. I stumbled upon the Springbank 15 in a little shop in Florida in 2020. Last bottle on the shelf and it was $100. A year later I picked up a Springbank 10 at Costco, of all places. And they had multiple cases. I think it was$90. Not sold where I live, so a no brainier. At least with Springbank we know that there truly are a limited number of bottles, so it's worth hunting. With some of the so called allocated bourbons I really doubt they're as limited.
Excellent whisky´s 👌
Excellent. Thank you for review.
Hadn't picked up a Victoriana this year because I thought the batch wouldn't be as good as last year's, which was incredible. Very glad to hear my suspicions may have been dead wrong.
Two Campeltown ❤❤❤❤
Rally, I’d love to see your 3 must have Irish whiskies for 2023
It's tough at the top!
I returned from a trip to Japan a few weeks ago and was able to try these and more at just one whisky bar in Tokyo... and there are dozens of great whisky bars in Tokyo. My go-to city for trying new and hard to find whisky at reasonable prices.
Recently got my hands on Mossburn single malt
11 years. Only 302 bottles . Cask strength. Very nice.
A triumvirate of tantalising throat warmers there Ralfy - anyone of those could grace my cabinet! 😁
Managed to try a glass of Springbank at a Whisky bar in Liverpool (The Puffin Room, excellent selection of whisky). also tried a glass of Laphroaig Lore. Springbank was very good (and subsequently i was lucky to find a bottle for sale online) but i was mightily impressed by the Lore. I still cant bring myself to pay that much for a bottle of NAS whisky, though...
For me the Deanston is gobsmackingly good at a good price.
The puffin room is excellent.
I think there are other Deanston's worth our attention too, and they're available with proper ratio quality/price.
I put in an order for the Glen Scotia bottle. I'll have a sip in a week or so :)
Two of those are already on my shelf. I couldn't be more proud of myself, my work here is done. 😅
Unexpected and very interesting top-3 👍👍
I have a Bowmore 12 yr old its absolutely beautiful
New glasses ralfy? They look good.
I feel happy and lucky to get at least one of these expressions, let's hope that by 2023 there'll be at least 2 of them 🙏.... Fingers crossed, Thanks for the recommendation Ralfy.. Cheers 🥃
In Ralfy We Trust. Cheers!
Thank you Ralfy! Well done, short and sweet… and sooooo accurate.
I've over accumulated and looking to downsize - thanks for the recommendations for 'essential' buys
Love all three of these.
Really enjoyed the warehouse selection tasting I did at Glen Scotia, very varied and tasty whiskies. Well worth doing (along with Springbank of course)
Now I see what is luxury for Ralfy!
And he is right.
Love Glen Scotia! Besides the Double Cask, it's been hard to find this year in Canada. The 15 and Victoriana are delicious.
Cheers!
Suffer through it Lad!
For the first time ever, I own them all!!! 🎉
On your recommendation. Bought Deanston 18yo and Glen Scotia Victoriana, but could not locate the SB10yo... Just tried the Deanston - wickedly good whisky!!!
Gosh Ralfy - that Deanston 18yo is immensely good! I was drinking some Steamship Bushmills and changed to the Deanston 18yo and my socks eneded up in the next room! Gobsmacked.........
I love springbank , went to the distillery a few years back. I can never ever find any of their stuff on the net or in shops though
thank you very much for your work, Slàinte
Thanks Ralfy for the wonderful recommendation! You are right! Lots of good bottles is coming our in the holiday season.Thanks for the review 949 extra. Now Springbank 10, 15, 18 is still relatively affordable in the US, but the price is still jacking up too much compared to a few years ago. We need to pay at least twice of the price now for a bottle of Springbank. For Springbank 21 yo and up, oh no~~~~really out of my Mr. wallet capacity, can't afford it.
I have all 3 but would be over the moon if anyone bought me one of these for Christmas. Great picks Ralfy 👌🏻
Again I have to shout bingo. Thanks Ralfy!
I can find the Glen Scotia 15 for about $11 less than Victoriana. Is the 15 near as good? I’ve had the Victoriana before and liked it.
Good picks
Good choices (if you can find them) can confirm.
The only one that I might be able to find here in British Columbia is a Deanston and even that I'm not sure about the 18. Springbank is very rare. I have bought it in the past but I haven't seen it in years. As for Glen Scotia . . . never. I have my eye on a Glencadam 18 though. That would be nice I think.
. . . Deanston 18 is excellent.
ralfy, Great 3. I happen to have all 3, on my second bottles of the Victoriana and the SB 10, haven't cracked the Deanston 18 yet but real soon. Thanks and CHEERS!
Ralfmaster. You have a wonderful way of "whinning". Spank those bottles". NAZDRAVYE!
Thank you, running to the liquor store now
I have to say i love my heavily peated whiskies, but i must concur the Victoriana and Deanston 18 are beautiful, complex drams. Im new to your channel and already enjoying your reviews. Excellent stuff sir!
I've been lucky to have tried two, who knows what Santa will bring.
If only I could get a Springbank 10!!☹️
Got 2 out of 3....and that ain't a bad thing 🤔
Have had the third one about 2 years ago
Speyburn 15 is another one that is available for a good price and very good quality.
Unfortunately we won't be seeing these in Canada!
Hi Ralfy
Thanks for those recommendations!
Springer 10yo and Deanston 18yo i already know they're amazing whiskys. The Victoriana i'have to try, but i discovered the Glen Scotia 15yo this year. Also a great, old style whisky that i can highly recommend to all of you!
Slàinthe,
Chris
Have two, need the 18 y deanston, only have a 12 year one.
I prefer glenfiddich 12 over Springbank any day
Awesome video, thanks...!!
You are a martyr Ralfy. I have just opened a bottle of Wormtub 10 year old batch 4. Can’t afford Springbank so I will have to force it down somehow and dream of winning a premium bond.
Im happy to have a shop in my City, that dont want to go Crazy with the prices. I could buy a springbank 10 for 80€ and the same with a Kilkerran 8 sherry Wood. In other shops i pay 100€ an more for the Springbank 10 an 160€ up for the Kilkerran.❤
Looks like 3 really good choices. I've tried Springbank and it's fantastic. About Glen Scotia. My brother told me long time ago that the Glen Scotia distillery were closed because it was haunted? :) I guess that was just a marketing trick if that happened? :)
Found a10y Springbank i Helsingör Denmark
Thank you! Wish I could....
Love this! Would you ever be interested in reviewing Norwegian Aquavit? I quite like the Lysholm Throndhjems Aquavit (aged 3 years). Gilde Non Plus Ultra has been aged 12 years.
Picked up a bottle of deanston 18 year old on Amazon last week for £57 !! Couldn’t pass up that price.
You couldnt! Well done. Its G8 stuff. Enjoy it at Christmas time 😁🥃🙋🏻♂️
@@peatbull3426 yeah they sometimes offer a big discount on their ‘subscribe and save’ and as soon as you receive it you can cancel the subscription and there’s no fees 😉
@@KristianH1986 😅👌🥃🙋🏻♂️
So grateful i have two of those in my cupboard currently...might have to hunt down some deanston 18 to get the trifecta
Amazon less than £60 now. Enjoy 😁🥃🙋🏻♂️
@@peatbull3426 you folk get to buy liquor on amazon in Europe?! ☹️ Being American makes malty moments tougher to come by from across the pond unfortunately! What a deal!
@@Jacobsmemesnstuff yes it true 🤷♂️ you guys in US have 43% and 0.75L bottles so life of Malt Mates is not fair 😁🥃🙋🏻♂️ anywhere.
Amazing! I just won a bottle of Deanston 18 with Master of malt! Not a bad freebie eh Ralfy?! Cheers mate! take care.
Fodasse yet another Springbank. Cheers Ralfy, wish you a very happy Xmas.
Springbank, GOOD. Deanston, GOOD! Glen Scotia, huh? Ok, I am game. I hope you will expand on this list of offerings from these distilleries, or expand your list to include other distilleries for 2023.
2 of 3 I already have. Got the Springbank Ten also €35 less than the price at a good big online vendor in The Netherlands, which hadn’t it in stock.
I prefer the Glen Scotia 15 though.
I don’t like NAS, and the reviews about the Victoriana are good, but better of the 15. No wonder, the 15 is seriously good and affordable.
2 out of 3 Campbeltown. Maybe an episode about an affordable topper from every region would also be nice, including islands.
I don’t dismiss it, the 15 is better though. It’s often the case with NAS, it’s good, but not as good as their age statement flagship. If you follow Ralfy regularly, you might notice that pattern.
@@MrChristopherMolloy- Opinions of quality or value are no excuse to withhold factual production information from paying customers. I don't care about anybody's gushing adjectives, whether "fabulous" or "delicious", because adjectives are a dime a dozen and aren't interchangeable with real production information, and I won't trade the latter for the former. If some NAS products were supposedly "good enough" in someone's opinion somewhere, could producers withhold ABV as well and give me 10 "wonderful" adjectives instead?
It isn't the quality or value that's inferior with some NAS products, it's the thinking and marketing.
@@MrChristopherMolloy - Oh, I know producers can't withhold ABV by law, but my question was, could they withhold it if it were up to you if it resulted in another "delicious" product - the further point being, what actual production information would we have left if it can be taken away because of claims of "quality, value and flexibility"?
It seems to me that it would be OK with you, because what's the real difference in the logic? If something tastes good, the whisky industry can do whatever it wants in terms of production information.
If I have you wrong, then I'll ask it again and maybe you'll actually answer this time, WOULD it be alright with you if producers withheld ABV so long as somebody, somewhere, said a product was delicious?
What else wouldn't customers "need to know" so long as someone, somewhere, said a product was "good"?
And, to be honest, I know a fair bit about scotch whisky regulations. For example, I know that The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (Amended in 2019) are established by the UK government and AREN'T laid out by the SWA. The Scotch Whisky Association is a trade organization and lobby group, NOT a regulatory body, no matter how much the SWA likes to pretend that it governs whisky and that its ever-present threat to take anyone who disagrees with it to court somehow makes it town sheriff.
As for what to do about NAS, you suppose wrongly. The problem isn't with the companies, it's with the NAS marketing they only sometimes use and the level of production information that consumers should instead have, which is why NAS marketing should be rejected, and not those products that don't use it.
There's no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater, just as there's no need to swallow every marketing line the industry throws down the pike about how poor "master blenders" have "their hands tied" over legislation around age information that, as Compass Box found out, that industry has no interest in actually reforming/improving and said was "fit for purpose".
Many of the same people complaining about the current rules are also those who support them (but didn't make them law). It's impossible for any company to be the "victim" of rules that it actually supports - it's a racket, made to prop up NAS.
@@MrChristopherMolloy - You won't answer it because it betrays how silly the excuses for NAS are - and you're too petty to simply answer the question one way or the other. Such is the "logic" of giving up production information in exchange for somebody somewhere calling something "delicious".
Saying NAS is "a thing" says nothing, and it's patently ridiculous that age supposedly "doesn't matter" to a product which is aged beyond legal minimums PRECISELY BECAUSE of the difference age maturation makes - so you can forget about all the other ridiculous crap that no one asked for in the first place. Age is fundamental to whisky character, which is exactly why every producer tracks it with every cask produced; those who don't know that really don't know anything about whisky.
The choice right now is between NAS, age statements and vintage dating (distilled in/bottled in). No one in the whisky industry has any right to complain about the "fairness " of regulations that they have no real interest in reforming.
Legal minimums and actual age are obviously different things, so calling everything a "3" solves nothing; your oversimplifying my position to match the simplistic nature of your own isn't a remedy.
What you buy, how much you pay for it and how many glowing adjectives you apply to it are still no excuse to withhold age information from anyone, including yourself.
@@MrChristopherMolloy - No, you didn't answer it - you ducked three times and we both know that - and, if your position could actually be defended, you would have. 🐔
If any of you ever cross a Victoriana and don't pick it up, you've made a huge mistake. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a cask strength Victoriana and it is one of the most superb whiskies I've ever had.
Something that would be nice is hearing how much you paid for these, then we could compare to the price we have in our location :) Cheers!
"Seasoned whisky hack" haha!
As usual, another expensive video for me! Many thanks for the hard work ;)
IMHO, Luxury Whisky is to be incomparable & exclusive.
A 20+ year old thorough sherry cask Glen Ord, Bowmore, Lagavulin, Benrinnes, Mortlach, Caol Ila or Glenrothes from one of the following bottlers is ultimate luxury -
1. The Nectar
2. Adelphi
3. Gordan & Macphail
4. Berry & Rudd
5. Signatory
6. The Collective
These bottlers beat Diageo's market bottles left and right.
I am happy to pay $499 for one of the above, than pay $299 for Diageo's 40% bottle.
I spoke to a rep for a big online retailer, and they confirmed that regular Springbank offerings are back in stock and increasing in supply. However, they are withholding bottles from their online shop for their brick and mortar stores to combat scalping, so go to a brick and mortar store and have a gander inside or call up a store beforehand and inquire.
Its nice to see that the scalping blight from the pandemic is starting to die down for these core range spirits.
Deanston 10 is a ripper. Would love to try the 18.
the Glen Scotia is a luxury malt for me, i have not tasted anything better to date, havent opened the springbank 10 as yet and can not get the Deanston 18 in australia
Despite Springbank being so famous, I've never seen it sold in Vancouver.
I got a springbank for 48£ in my whisky shop 🎉
I bought online shop 3 weeks ago for £50 so if you lucky still is not bad 😁🥃😅