Unique 2020 Springbank 10 Year Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Review
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Let’s take a look at a classic Single Malt whisky. The Springbank 10 is their entry level whisky that’s matured in bourbon casks as well as sherry casks. This 2020 release is bottled at 46% and retails between $55 to $70. The Springbank distillery is known for having three different expressions. Hazelburn is their unpeated line, Springbank has a moderate level of peat, and Longrow is their heavily peated. All releases come with age statements, without any coloring or chill-filtering, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% abv. For reference, both my bottles have a laser code of 20/104 (104th day of 2020). I know I was hearing some chatter over in Europe about this 2020 version, so let’s dive in and see what that’s all about.
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As of August 2021, my current bottle count is over 2,500. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for more than two decades and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, stay tuned for the September launch of the new “Saints Alley” project that I’ve been working on. Given my knowledge and high standards, you know I’m working hard with my team to give you some amazing releases! Thanks for watching and remember to please drink responsibly. Cheers! - Навчання та стиль
One of the cornerstones of Scottish Malt whisky. Absolute unit of a bottling - consistently!
I had two bottles of the mid 2019 bottle, and didn't open the second one until the latter half of 2020... definitely a huge step up and wonderful development as it sat open for months. All the fruit came out. By the time I opened the second bottle it was fantastic from start to finish... maybe I had grown accustomed to it, but it was solid from opening. Fantastic whisky for the price.
Absolutely... too bad even the 10 is hard to find these days
Thanks for another great vid LH!!! SB10 is my all-time favorite standard scotch, and has been for over a decade now. It has a certain honest charm with complexity that I find endearing.
Thanks for the comment and cheers!
It was the first springbank i've bought, before the circa 2020 effect was a known thing. I was not expecting funky notes like that. Happy stuff
Such a great reviewer, I really appreciate your opinion. Of course it's nice to hear you sing praises for one of my favorite whiskeys. I like how round it is, as you say... each scotch region married beautifully into something unique, and they're independent to boot.
Allowing air in or to decant does change the spirit. It’s conditioning not oxidation. That’s how I think of it. Some spirits take it well and actually improve. Others lose a bit of character with too much air. But that’s the fun of it. Chris, you made a recommendation to me some time ago about my Rebel Yell 10. I complained that upon opening it, the astringency was a bit off-putting for me. You suggested giving it some air and some time. You were right.
Thank you and yes I remember that! It’s such a good pour once it has time to open up. I appreciate the comment and cheers!
I love Springbank but can't really ever find the 10 year on the shelves where I am in New Jersey. I was just able to pick up the 12 cask strength and the 15 so I'm very happy about that. I've never been disappointed with anything out of the distillery or Kilkerran which is run by the same people in Cambletown.
Nice grab on those! Enjoy them and cheers!
Your reviews are really great. I would love to know how you are able to build such a great collection… I am lucky to be a Springbank Society member. They don’t accept new members at the moment but if and when they do I can really recommend it. They have some extremely exciting bottlings. Mainly younger versions (of both Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow) in fx Sauternes casks and re-charred bourbon (in the last few years). I think the last one was an 8 year old Springbank in Oloroso. They are all cask strength. They might not ship overseas (I live in Denmark), but they are worth going for in auctions too.
In my opinion the very affordable NAS Longrow (the peated version of Springbank for those who don’t know) is one of the best value for money whiskies around. And probably my favourite no age statement whisky.
Thank you and I agree! Cheers!
There are very few 10 year old single malts that can measure up to this. That Springbank funk is legendary.
Really like the 2019 bottling, ill definitely have my eye out for the 2020, cheers!
Are the bottles from the sam Batch Gav's drams put two different batches head to head You should have a look
I was literally about to go pick up the Springbank 18 over lunch cause I found the 20/02 (88% ex-bourbon / 12% ex-port) bottle at a much lower than usual price....but I love the 10 and you bet I'm watching what the man himself has to say about the newest batch before I go get something else!
the bottle code isnt the 104th day btw. Every time there's a bottling run (which they do on site) that is given a number - so 104/20 is the 104th bottling run in 2020. That's why you'll sometimes see 370/18 or similar. Haven't got this one but 20/129 seems to have the same profile and makes sense as they'll batch the 10 up and then rest in cask for 6 months to let the batch marry back in wood.
try wolfburn cask strength it is very similar to spbank 10
Most of the newer batches of SB 10 have been pretty damn good
I can barely find the 10 let alone any Springbank. And the 10 goes for at least 100 by me 🙁
Great video & review mate. I've never understood the people who deny this or think it's only your / their palate that is changing. Some whiskies change more than others of course, but some change massively. Great to see a direct comparison of the same bottle to prove it.
Well said and thank you! Cheers!
This got way harder to find since this video came out.
Damn you have two versions. Either one is legiondary. Just received my first bottle of this after waiting 18 months. WOW this is truly something special. I also have the Killkerrin 12 which is very very similar. Hard picked to pick between these 2. They are both exceptional. Heavy barley influence which I love and the oily texture is divine. Man this is heaven. Fortunately I have both of them now but would happily buy more if I could. Campbelltown is definitely my favourite region. Not for everyone, but for me it is perfection.
You have great taste! Thank you for being here and cheers!
Hello my dear Hound, (to second you) in regards to single malt in particular - but also other spirits - I dare say seldom (if ever?) have I encountered ones that did not change at least slightly over time through oxidization. Many cask strength bottlings even more drastically so, just as peated ones often do not least due to phenols breaking apart. Thanks for your content! Cheers.
P.S. Lately, since the label re-design, the Springer 10 seems to have produced many very good batches, indeed. To my joy far superior to my first lackluster bottle in 2014 or so. I vividly remember questioning my own, already fairly acquainted, palate at the time trying to wrap my brains around the fact that my batch of the 'fabled' Springbank 10 was in fact a dud! XD
Great comment! Thanks for watching and cheers!
@LiquerHound, the SB10 is highly recommended by you and others. In your review I believe you said it was around $65 but I haven't seen it for less than $85. Do you think the additional cost is worth it? I've had my eye out for it in bars but haven't found any that I could try.
I’d still buy one at that price. Then you can taste it and decide if you feel a backup is in order. Cheers!
Horrible for me! I just started enjoying Whisk, immediately fell im love with Springbank and now I must see that exactly this brand is much more expensive and rare than in the past. I need a time machine!!!
Lol, I get to use it first!! Cheers!
Hello thanks for the review. Do you gas your whisky? If so what are your experiences with it...when and why?
Yes I do. I’d say 95% of the open bottles on my bar get argon gassed after every pour. The other 5% don’t get gassed because I want them to oxidize and soften up a little bit. Of course once they hit a good spot, I’ll start gassing them. Cheers!
Open a bottle, have a dram, add a teaspoon of water, shake the bottle hard, wait two days and you’re there.
This chaneel is fucking awesome.
I mean this is hardcore knowledge about taste to another level. I really appreciate the content bro.
I have owned five different clubs/bars in my time and maybe will again after pandemic BS is over
I'm in NYC, and can't find a decent selection of Springbank (along with so many others) anywhere. Sure, I see an odd bottle here & there, but this 10 yo is nowhere to be found.
So chalk up another one for Texas!
great bottle . unfortunately now about 90 dollars .
Stewed celery. That's a good note for Springbank.
Old school Caol Ila and Talisker cask strength 25yo behind there.
This is $80-$100 up here in the northeast. Absolutely absurd.
Thanks for a excellent review, I have bought a lot of this brand!
Good review.. But $60? It’s $90 in indiana.
Great review, thanks. Btw even this is quite hard to find nowadays.
Great subject.
Good review!
See this is an example where your expertise just takes off compared to most other reviews. I wish you'd do more comparative vids on widely available bottlings. Gosh, I remember just a few years ago I could have grabbed the SB 15 yo for what, a little over 50 € ? The thought of not having gone for that brings tears to my eyes now :D
Much appreciated and I’ll try. Thanks for the input and cheers!
10Y Hazelburn changes dramatically during the life of the open bottle.....
Definitely! Thank you for the comment and cheers!
How so, please do elaborate!
Great review....I only have the 15 so far....as soon as I see one of these I will buy!
Where are you finding this for $60? I live in Las Vegas and it sells for $99!
Here in Texas they were about $70 after taxes. Cheers!
Bought this a few months ago as it was on my list to buy. Thanks to your comparison of a newly cracked opened vs. one that has been sitting on the shelf was very helpful. My first impression was just ok. Very punchy on the nose and taste, almost like the taste needed to mature. So I had a few more tastings to where I got it past the shoulder of the bottle and I let it sit for a few months. Came back to it and watch your video again while sipping and yes it taste much better to me. Like you said the taste is more rounded and not segmented. Another great review! Cheers!
I always enjoy hearing great feedback like this! Thank you and I’m glad it’s turning the corner for you! Cheers!
Live the channel. The control would be to open two fresh bottles and see if you can detect any difference between the two. I know in some liquors there may be slight variations from one bottle to the next, especially in small batch higher end product. Something mass produced would be virtually impossible to detect any variation.
Anyway, love the videos!
Thanks for the input and cheers!
I have to drive hours to find this one at $90.
I recently picked up a bottle of Kilkerran 10 and really enjoyed it. How would you compare that to this one?
Both are solid, but this 2020 has a tropical kick that you don't find a lot. Cheers!
Great Review, Hound!
As far as flavor creep or oxidation, I believe it's both... Sometimes your palate is in the zone and drams just hit different, but some distillates definitely change in the bottle.
Yeah don't get me wrong, moods and foods can impact your taste buds, but I agree that oxidation (or some say degradation - but it is happening in the presence of oxygen) is real and does effect the contents - some more (and faster) than others. Cheers!
Great review! Would love to hear your thoughts on the new Remus Repeal V that just came out.. my favorite of the bunch so far.
If I ever get to try it, I’ll let you know. Cheers!
Awesome review! I am learning so much from you et al. Thank you!
Great! Thank you for watching and cheers!
Got the Springbank 10 from 11.02.20. 20/29 right now, love that one!
Thanks for the input and cheers!
Maybe I missed it, but mind if I ask what that bottle ran you? I ask because I know the Hazelburn 10 goes for about $100 if you can find it, and I'm sorry, but that's too much IMO.
$65ish after taxes. Cheers!
@@LiquorHound Thanks. Cheers!
$60 2 yrs ago here in RI now about $90 Love me some springbank!
Ugh, I think I'd still have to pick one up at that price. Thanks for the comment and cheers!
I tried some at a restaurant...loved it, but I can’t find this anywhere or online.
That’s not good. Just know that even though the 2019 has a more standard distillery profile, I’d be happy with either. Fingers crossed, you’ll find one soon! Cheers!
Great review! I've been grabbing a few of these in NY. Definitely one of my favorites. Cheers to you sir!
Thanks for watching and cheers!
👍👍
$60 for the 10 in the U.S. now ? where? $80 to $85 now in SoCal
I found it for $62 and change out the door here in Texas. Cheers!
Great video, Chris, I've been trying this expression since around 2003 & it did change over time, some of the earliest releases I've tried had no peat at all, strangely, and no sherry casks either in the mix...(some had even rum casks in the mix), then the more sherried versions appeared in late 2000s, but this one (I haven't tried yet) is a kinda come back to a less sherried profile with a mix of 40% Sherry casks & 60% Bourbon Casks (not sure about the filling numbers). I hope to try it some day...Cheers !
Thanks for the awesome information Greg! Take care and cheers!
@@LiquorHound Very welcome, malty Greetings from France !
hi greg, ive been lucky to share a few of the older buff 10s with friends and Ive found the peat dialled up a notch or three. Kinda dusty and older profile too. More erratic with batch variations I think? AS consistent now as its ever been. A super dram with a nice level of complexity at the price point.
@@iansunderland7444 Hi Ian, sorry I didn't saw your comment before...Yeah lots of batch variations indeed (I'm preparing a rundown video about 4 or 5 different versions of that 10 yo because they are all different & this on a 10 years only time). Cheers !
@@LiquorHound I've recently found a batch from 2020 but it's not the same batch as yours, mine is 20/151 bottled 05/11/2020. I will asap do a video about the 4 different versions/batches of the 10 yo I have running from early 2000 to 2020, and I can tell you already that they are all quite different...
Very nice review. You’ve made me want to rush out and grab a bottle.
Lol, well at least don't pass one up in your travels. Cheers!
I’ve had a couple of Glenrothes expressions that changed quite a bit from the initial neck pour where I was almost disappointed, to the finish of the bottle where I was sad to see it go.
Looks good!