Any One for a Scotch?

[stephenaf2003]

Really dang good (sweetness is surprisingly enveloping), also really dang overpriced, but made a good deal more tolerable by BevMo’s coupons.

Fun Ardbeg, but Oogy or Corry are comfortably better, imo.

@stephenaf2003 where do you come across those sorts of offerings, out of curiosity?
View attachment 2176209

I picked this up in Vienna, back in 2017. I forgot I had it until I was going through my stash a few months ago.

 

[KarlHungus]

Notttttttt half bad…
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Can someone explain to me what the hype around Springbank stems from? I'm asking in all seriousness as I haven't tried but don't know off hand of any other distillery where regular strength 10yr goes for $150 or more. Can't being myself to pay that price but curious what I'm missing out on.

 

[venividivicibj]

Can someone explain to me what the hype around Springbank stems from? I'm asking in all seriousness as I haven't tried but don't know off hand of any other distillery where regular strength 10yr goes for $150 or more. Can't being myself to pay that price but curious what I'm missing out on.

Lack of supply
one of only 2 real distilleries in Campbeltown
no true substitute.

 

[mhip]

Lack of supply
one of only 2 real distilleries in Campbeltown
no true substitute.

Huh...

I remember really liking my bottle, but not enough where it was earth shattering.
Hi Times has it in for $119 (!) now. I'd never pay that.

 

[venividivicibj]

Huh...

I remember really liking my bottle, but not enough where it was earth shattering.
Hi Times has it in for $119 (!) now. I'd never pay that.

I think MSRP is $99, but it used to be $59 like 3-4 years ago (and easy to find). Worse is the 12 cask strength - that regularly goes for ~$300+ plus now.

 

[ericgereghty]

Can someone explain to me what the hype around Springbank stems from? I'm asking in all seriousness as I haven't tried but don't know off hand of any other distillery where regular strength 10yr goes for $150 or more. Can't being myself to pay that price but curious what I'm missing out on.

Lack of supply
one of only 2 real distilleries in Campbeltown
no true substitute.

Huh...

I remember really liking my bottle, but not enough where it was earth shattering.
Hi Times has it in for $119 (!) now. I'd never pay that.

I think MSRP is $99, but it used to be $59 like 3-4 years ago (and easy to find). Worse is the 12 cask strength - that regularly goes for ~$300+ plus now.

All of this. I overpaid. It's delicious and worth having around, but not at all a value buy for the most part nowadays. DID find a few shops that carry them at tolerable adjacent pricing. But, lo and behold...all sold out for now. Womp womp.

I recall having the 12 CS at a local bar (not a specialty shop either) for like $17 a few years back, and a pretty beefy overall SB selection. No mas...

 

[hpreston]

Can someone explain to me what the hype around Springbank stems from? I'm asking in all seriousness as I haven't tried but don't know off hand of any other distillery where regular strength 10yr goes for $150 or more. Can't being myself to pay that price but curious what I'm missing out on.

Lack of supply
one of only 2 real distilleries in Campbeltown
no true substitute.

Basically what @venividivicibj said, but I'll add a few things.

Scarcity, yes, they produce a much smaller amount than other distilleries.

Its got a complexity that is rare among single malts. Its has a smokiness that isn't overpowering. Seaside flavors (again, not overpowering) sweetness, etc.

Add to that, all production is done by a family owned distillery and takes place (including the malting) on premises... its kind of the pinnacle of Single Malt production.

YMMV and of course value is to each to decide. Its like Blanton's good juice, worth it at $50? For sure, worth it at $80? Probably yes. Worth it at aftermarket proices of over $100?? probably not.

 

[ericgereghty]

Speaking of Campbeltown. This is really enjoyable.

 

[KarlHungus]

Best Quinta Ruban hands down

 

[gnatty8]

Best Quinta Ruban hands down
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This is just so good. Easily one of my favorite single malts, and unbelievable value

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Can someone explain to me what the hype around Springbank stems from? I'm asking in all seriousness as I haven't tried but don't know off hand of any other distillery where regular strength 10yr goes for $150 or more. Can't being myself to pay that price but curious what I'm missing out on.

Nothing mate - it's a run of the mill Malt nothing more - it's pure internet FOMO hype (all this said as a Scotsman who has for the most part been hammering the drams for 30 years). Without wishing to burst bubbles, so much Whisky at the moment is over-rated/seriously over priced these days. There's more expressions from a distillery than me watching my team go 0-1,1-1,1-2,2-2,3-2,3-3 in a must win match, whilst hungover (on said drams) Back in the pre-internet days, you basically had the 12/15/18/21 etc and that was it. But now, Whisky is a marketeers dream and sadly/consequently the market is over-saturated yet equally over-priced.
Preaching to the converted in this thread, but obv.DO NOT EVER buy a NAS (no age statement) bottle from anywhere under any circumstances - maybe, if you plan to ruin/dilute with some hideous sugary pish, but even then, stick to a blend and don't encourage the bastards to produce any more of this utter liquid shite.
Getting back to Springbank - could try Old Pultney for a similar style - as not 'trendy' but even the last bottle of that I had - standard 12 expression was very underwhelming and not what I remembered from years ago.

Don't wish to sound like it's all pish now and back when I was a lad etc etc ; but the Distilleries are really taking the mickey these days and need to reign it in.... but increased demand means either increase supply (with poor quality drams) or let silly prices take over in the mostly secondary market. Not hard to see what they choose.

I've personally moved over to brandy/cognac for the most part - a lot more VFM, and doesn't hammer you mentally/physically/spiritually in the same way that a night on the cask strength does.

 

[KarlHungus]

This is just so good. Easily one of my favorite single malts, and unbelievable value

Agree. Will lament the day this bottle is finished and I have to convert to the current 14yo green bottle expression. For some reason I find the 12yo expression significantly better

 

[jcman311]

I’ll just say that Springbank is one where older is not necessarily better. The 10yo and 12yo cask strength are probably the best expressions. They get softer and more rounded as the age increases in the OB lineup.

 

[jcman311]

Nice.

 

[KarlHungus]

Nice.
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That looks dark!