Kilkerran 12 Year Review - Is this Campbeltown Whisky a Worthy Alternative to the Springbank 10?
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- Springbank is so popular right now, the 10 Year is either hard to find, or incredibly expensive when you can get it. But: did you know that Springbank's parent company owns a second Campbeltown distillery where they make Kilkerran Single Malt? In this video, we examine what Kilkerran has in common with the Springbank, taste the Kilkerran 12, and consider how it stacks up against its famous cousin, Springbank 10. Then, I share my review.
00:00 - Introduction
02:06 - Tasting
08:20 - Tasting (with water)
11:16 - Review
Kilkerran is a defacto Springbank; unfortunately it's just about as scarce and expensive as Springbank where I am.
If you're looking for Springbank alternatives (not substitutes) which are available and affordable, then consider Craigellachie 13, Glen Scotia 15 and Loch Lomond 18, or Benromach 10 if you're looking for something like a Longrow alternative ✌️.
@Christoper Molloy your comment should be pinned to the top. Those alternatives are super solid and could be found at retail. Although retail has gone up for Benromach I'm finding. Used to be a $40 by me and is now $57. I'm also finding Kilkerran to be as scarce and expensive as Springbank. Although the Kilkerran 16 year is $130 to the Springbank 15 year is $160 in my area.
@@TheReal_DeanD Thanks Dean D! Then last time I bought a bottle of Springbank 15, and perhaps the last time I saw it, it was $100. Where I am, Springbank 10 is now selling-out at $160, which is just absurd; so there needs to be alternatives suggested for those with their heads screwed on straight.
I love Springbank, but the hype surrounding this distillery, driven in no small part by UA-cam influencers, should absolutely make zero sense to a sober, sensible adult who works for their money.
If someone has a trust fund, runs a hedge fund, or owns a cobalt mine, then feel free to ignore my attempted-logic & advice; but for everyone else, I'd encourage you to not buy into this frenzy.
As for me, I've most likely bought my last Springbank, Longrow, Hazelburn, and Kilkerran for the foreseeable future, and I'm okay with that 😉✌️🥂
I wholly agree. The hype for Kilkerran has made it almost as scarce as Springbank here in Australia. Just this week, a retailer had some stock of the 8yr cask strength going for AUD$399 (~USD$270). And it still sold out within hours. Nonsensical.
@@squibpasqo Yep, lots of simpletons with money burning a hole their pockets; and the online community isn't helping this scenario one bit.
Yeah, I've gone down that road, too. I wasn't looking for alternatives to Springbank. Springbank wasn't even a consideration, as it wasn't even available in my market. It never had been. I was looking for 'lightly peated'. That I liked. I didn't care for Islay peat flavors. I went through Glen Scotia 15 and Craigallechie 13 before landing on Benromach 15, which is, at the moment, my favorite. Then, chafed by all the chatter about Springbank, I resorted to online sources. I have bottles of Springbank 10 and Longrow Peated. I've opened the Longrow and, after sampling, immediately ordered two more bottles. I have not yet opened the Springbank. This will have to be with really good friends.
Your opinion is one the most trustful. Period. Small details that you take care to do the right assessment like the same level of both bottles...because of oxidation...and that's important! Very important! Best page in UA-cam by far. I don't know your background but It's clear that you study a lot about whisky. You deserve more viewers.
I appreciate that!
If you are into Campbeltown: Try out Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt. Each batch different.
Nailed it. Kilkerran is not particularly similar to Springbank, Longrow or Hazelburn. Any view that it is I put down to the power of suggestion, and if you taste them both blind in a lineup with four other whiskies it becomes obvious. Springbank supplies the malt to Kilkerran, the work is done by Springbank staff, and the barrels are matured at Springbank, but fermentation and distillation at Kilkerran are completely different processes to those at Springbank. For one thing they double distill (in a very straightforward manner) and both stills are indirect fired with jacket condensers. Completely different to Springbank.
If you want a Springbank alternative look at Benromach, Ben Nevis, Ledaig, Wolfburn, Oban or even Talisker. Again, try all of those in a blind tasting lineup 😉
Great suggestions. Thanks for another thoughtful comment!
1st time viewer and immediately subscribed. Great review.
Welcome aboard!
Your palate detail reviews really inspire me to revisit my collection! I found the KK12 so much lighter than the HP series I love that I put it in the back and haven’t tasted in more than a year or perhaps two but definitely want to drink along and try to experience the subtlety and complexity you describe, thx!
Enjoy it!
HP? Hewlett Packard?
Thank you for another informative and honest review. I do enjoy both Whisky’s and I understand your conundrum in rating the Kilkerran 12 at that price in your market. Where I live in South Africa, Springbank is hard to come by, Kilkerran only slightly less so, but the Kilkerran 12 is priced at approximately $60 in my market and that makes it a more compelling purchase.
Great work, please keep it up 👍🏻
That's a steal!
Still on my first bottle of each, I prefer the Kilkerran but do love the Springbank too.
Can't go wrong either way.
This Kilkerran expression is superb! Love it! I pay more for this expression but with the complexity and what I get on my palette I am happy to pay more! I think it's worth it. I wih I could find it more easily! Awesome review and comparison! High quality, delicious! Thanks so much! 🙂
Anything related to Springbank seems to be tough to find, but at least this one is worth the chase. Enjoy!
@@whiskywhereabouts Yes it sure is!! Agreed!! I hope you are having a lovely holiday season! Cheers!! 🙂
Just found this channel,good content. subscribed and looking forward to more videos.cheers from Iceland..
Awesome, thank you!
I'm seeing the same regarding price. Kilkerran 12 year is $85 vs. Springbank 10 year at $87. Kilkerran's availability is a hair better than Springbank though in my area. The flippers have took over with Springbank where I am. As soon as the Springbanks come in they're bought by the case and flipped in China for SICK money. I've got 1 bottle of Kilkerran 12 and I hope its good.
Enjoy it!
Peat levels in both SB and KK are the same in the barley,(lightly peated) although the end result may be slightly different due to the differing production processes at the two distilleries.
Really enjoyed your review. Now, I'll have to do a compare and contrast with my bottles. Kilkerran is easier to obtain, as it is sold in state, whereas any Springbank has to be special ordered online via a specialty spirits provisioner and shipped via parcel delivery, with all those attendant costs.
Enjoy it! (especially if you can get your hands on a bottle at a reasonable price, without all of those added costs ...)
Great video, in my own view, Kilkerran smashes Springbank out of the water. Yet I feel like the odd one out as would say that Longrow is also better than SB as well. Brilliant indepth notes. Cheers.
Hard to go wrong with any of them. Thanks!
I recently bought both whiskies. I can only conclude that they are both fine, but incomparable whiskeys in terms of smell and taste. Kilkerran excellent but not yet as good as Springbank. The price of both differs considerably here, in the Netherlands. Approx. $60 for the Kilkerran and $107 for the Springbank.
Nice value not hat Kilkerran ...
The price depends (as often) on your location. I found KK12 not expensive at all (45 Euros) and available. Bought a few because I liked it a lot. Still is available, yet now for slightly over 50 Euros. My last SB10 was also under 50 Euros (2 years ago?).
These are great buys these days, enjoy!
Springbank 10 $98 for a bottle last week, last one on the shelf
That's a score.
Man I want a bottle of kilkerran. 90 in Illinois and springbank 10 is 100.
That's a good price.
for me kilkerran 12 is not an alternative to springbank 10....never. A good alternative of springbank 10 may be Glen Scotia Victoriana.