Springbank Substitutes: 10yo 100 proof v. Mortlach 12 v. Benromach 10 v. IB Highland Park 13yo
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2021
- So why is Springbank currently so darn expensive and so regularly emptied off the shelves? And in the meantime, if we can't stomach making a long drive and dropping a hundo on an entry-level bottling, are there any "substitute" malts that might scratch the same Springbanky itch?
That second question provides the challenge for this video, and it's not an easy one. Hazelburn and Longrow, the alternative distillation recipes at Springbank, actually aren't as idiosyncratic as Springbank malt itself: peated but not heavily peated, directly-fired, worm-tubbed, and partially triple distilled (and wow is that last one a long conversation - / lets_talk_partial_trip... . It's uncommon to find malts that match any of those technical quirks, let alone all of them. But what the hell, let's try anyhow. I've got four malts here, all of which I'll review as normal (the reviews start at around 16:30, right after I initially nose the wrong glass). But I'm also going to rank them on a Springbank Substitution Index or SSI, for which an older bottle of Springbank 10 (the US release of the "100 proof") will provide the standard. A 10 on the index is Springbank itself - can't find something more like Springbank than Springbank - with a 1 being, say, your average NAS Speysider. Stats:
- Springbank 10 Year Old "100 Proof" Single Malt Scotch Whisky (OB US release, circa 2012; non-chillfiltered, natural color; 50% ABV), 89/100 and SSI 10/10
- Mortlach 12 Year Old "The Wee Witchie" Single Malt Scotch Whisky (OB, circa 2019; 43% ABV), 85/100 and SSI 7.5/10
- Benromach 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (OB, lot 12/12/18 3169311080; 43% ABV), 87+/100 and SSI 9.0/10
- Unnamed Orkney 2005 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Highland Park, Signatory for Winebow; 5/7/2005-8/9/2018; Hogshead no. DRU 17A/63#72, 323 bottles; natural color, cask strength; 56.2% ABV), 87/100 and SSI 7.0/10
The old young Springbank is magnificent, as you'd expect - annoyingly so, given our current Springbank dilemma. Meanwhile the Mortlach 12 might be the best OB malt you can buy under $45, and the super-secret undisclosed Highland Park - the kind of Highland Park I'm buying these days - is pretty good in its old right. But it's the Benromach that comes closest, providing a fun, oily twist on Springbanky heaviness only really held back by so-so presentation.
A most enthralling and captivating Episode ! ------- love your SSI, it gives me a base starting point for vatting my own SUmmerbank --------- since 2022, many had proposed Craigellachie-13 may have a good SSI scores ???
I like the Craig 13 a lot, but honestly? No way in heck anyone's mistaking it for Springbank. But buy it anyway! 😁
Had a line up of samples and disregarded the Hampden 46% and Benromach 10 at first. With the Hampden i couldnt get over the note of pickle juice and with the Benromach the unusual peat totally threw me off. Today i took my time with the spirits and you are right, they are truely stunning. I found notes of green olives and seawater with the Hampden and with the Benromach your comparison with a barnyard hit the nail on the head. I actually had that thought before i watched your video and had to think about the local farm i once worked at. You are really doing a great, great job. Thank you very much.
Thanks! There's a reason why they're two of my favorites...
Long time springbank fan - and single malts in general - more than 15 years. I discovered your channel only recently actually because of rum! I am at the very beginning of my new rum journey and have enjoyed and relied on your reviews (now have 7 different bottles). Such a pleasure to finally here you discuss some my favorite malts - Springbank, Mortlach, Benromach, and Highland Park! Thanks for your work - I am definitely a subscriber!
Thanks for the kind words! (Let us all fear what Hampden pricing is going to look like in 15 years...)
@@differentspirits4157 maybe it will go the way of Springbank…I guess that is your implication… I did get Hampden, Trois Rivieres, Clairin, Foursquare, Chairman’s Reserve, Worthy Park, and a Jamaican Transcontinental Rum Line….
@@differentspirits4157 Oh, shit.
Interesting as always. I was thinking that you’d end up combining them (or adding a bit from an off-the-screen bottle) to get as close to 10 as possible. Seems like the Benromach comes pretty close on its own.
Ha! Mortlach with a dash of Highland Park? I could see it!
David Broom explains that the partial distillation (at Mortlach anyway) is to be very precise about copper contact. The less copper contact the less refined the spirit, the more sulphury, and that's often where the meatiness develops. For me, Springbank still has a fair amount of copper contact so even though it has weight it's not meaty--probably why the fruit character gets so funky. Benromach uses brewer's and distiller's yeast to set up their fruit funk. Multiple avenues to similar flavors.
Benromach's standard 10yr feels like someone slapped a limiter on the "engine" but I still enjoy it. If anything this exercise showcases why blending is important and shouldn't be looked down upon. Curious if you've tried any Westland products?
No Westland yet, but it's been on my list for years. Also, you'd think all those trips back to the Wee Witchie would actually be increasing copper contact, but maybe not?
@@differentspirits4157 Time to bump the priority level. I've tasted the full core range (American Oak is the only one worth the cash) and several LEs and single casks (very good quality albeit a tad pricey). If you like Clynelish then you'll like Westland, simple.
As for Mortlach, my guess is that the small pot leads to a quick distillation (shorter copper contact) and tighter cut. But I don't know the distillation length at Mortlach because that changes things too. So many factors go into that glass!
@@garrettjanssen7683 Westland has been duly bumped!!
Interesting comparison. Well presented. Benromach doesn’t add coloring but except for their cask strength they do chill filter.
Benromach could be a force to recon with if they up abv to 46% and non chill filter.
Cheers! Great show!
Thanks! I actually think they're a bit of a force even with rather pedestrian presentation. Or, put it this way: with Springbank now at a hundo, Laphroaig in the sixties, Clynelish pushing up past eighty, etc., suddenly a 43% Benromach at fifty bucks or so starts to look like a bargain...
@@differentspirits4157 Benromach Peat Smoke @ 46%abv is impressive
Great video. I think the Springbank partially triple distilled is robust because they go deeper into the tails on their cuts.
the second partial distillation is a blank run iirc, so all the heads and tails just stay right in there. I dunno, man, it's all sorcery.
This is the content I would like more off , your take on the content & value of the malt whisky out there . Your bound to get more views & likes
from me at least ( & the 1/2 million other whisky fans) . Cheers :)
Thanks! The hard part is finding a take on these whiskies that hasn't already been done to death by other channels. (And, indeed, punching through the search algorithm when there are channels orders of magnitude larger...)
@@differentspirits4157 Scott, just food for thought, I feel like your unique take, palate, and way with words could bring lots of value even to the most done-to-death categories. It's not so much that we want your review of Jim Beam, it's that we'd value your guidance regarding the overall landscape various spirits categories. Your very ability to know which spirits are getting too little attention, and to create such amazing content about those spirits, qualifies you in my book to opine on the spirits that get too much attention.
I would love to see your overall take on the Scotch landscape: the different categories, regions, standout producers, standout (affordable) expressions, etc. Your audience doesn't care what OTHER people have said, we care what YOU will say! Even about spirits that get lots of attention.
@@bingchance3614 Aww, thanks! I'll try to throw in a few more old chestnuts in the future, then...
Another very interesting and informative video! Call me crazy but Loch Lomond 18 reminds me of Springbank 10.....first sip I let out a "whoa this is like springbank"
LL is one of those "bad" distilleries I'm constantly watching to see if they suddenly get themselves in a groove, a la Tobermory in the late '90s. There's a ton of potential there and, indeed, a kind of dirty-heavy element...
Fun episode and I've thought about the Springbank substitution test myself. Okay, so we're ruling out the obvious Kilkerran and you've done the others. I would have included Benromach as well. Well, you touched on one and that is the Amrut Fusion, that's high on the substitute index- 8+/10. How about Ben Nevis 10? I'll admit that its availability is 10/10 on the substitute index but in terms of the essential qualities it's a 8+/10 as well. I considered Talisker for a moment but it's not the same. Independent Highland Park is not a bad option but very hit and miss. I don't get that Springbank plasticine note. Looking at my stash I'm all out of any further ideas. Actually, here's one. Try and get your hands on the Longrow Peated NAS. It's ofen easier to find than the Springbank 10 these days (although we're talking Kilkerran 12 levels) and I prefer it to the 15. It used to taste a little feinty but this year's batch tastes older to me and it's very good.
I'm gearing up for a second round of substitutes right now, actually! Fusion is probably in in some form or other; I'd totally throw in an OB Ben Nevis if I could get one, but so far Chicago's got nothing. I think I can get a fun mix, though...
(And yes, I should try that young bastard of a Longrow again one of these days...)
I find Highland Park to be similar....Their "Dark" 17 year old series even has the funk
I thought so too! That's why a HP is the third substitute reviewed here... 😅
I find the salt/brine of OP in a sherry butt to be quite evocative. But you’re right. Nothing does all of what SB does like SB.
You know, sherried Pulteney is a good thought! In the running for part two...
I really like your video bro, some part I couldn't understand cause the lanuage, but good work, you are so attentive😁
I'm drinking Mortlach 16(the sweetness is perfect) and Benromach 2007, cheers.
Thanks! Those Benromach vintage releases can be delightful... and I really need to get around to Morty 16 one day.
I'm having trouble hearing you over that 100pf 10yo. Nice. =)
Benromach may have been the most disappointing whisky I've tried so far, but I love Mortlach and unsherried HP may be one of my absolute favorite things.
Really need to give Benromach a second chance, I think. Maybe the 15.
As far as older Springbank goes, I really didn't love the 15, but they vary so much by batch. The 18 I had wasn't much of a step forward from the 10, but same caveat applies. The 21, on the other hand... absolutely stunning, as was an old 21yo IB I had a chance to try thanks to a friend. There is some gold to be uncovered up in the higher age statements, I think, but you kinda need the 21 (oof) or a good 18 to get there. The core range 15 is such a disappointment.
We may have to disagree about Benromach! No idea why it isn't 46% etc., but when the creators stay away from unlikely wine casks I find it delightfully old school.
(I have indeed had some great older Springbanks, but never in activeish oak is the thing...)
Benromach has had some notable batch variations, and the offshoots (Peat Smoke, Organic, wine finishes) have a very hit-or-miss dynamic. When Benromach is good though, it's really good. Haven't had the revamped labels though
@@garrettjanssen7683 Oof, yeah, no disagreement re: the bad variants and offshoots. They had this weird obsession with Sassicaia finishes for awhile just for a start (and I do hope they fired whatever guy bought them like fifty ex-Supertuscan casks).
Australian prices....
Springbank 10 $130
Mortlach 12 $105
Benromach 10 $90-100
They really hate y'all down there, don't they?