Review #5: Springbank 10 Year

Springbank's 10 year old provides the perfect introduction to the Springbank range. Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, it is complex yet perfectly balanced from the first sip through to the sweet, salty finish.

Let's get one thing out of the way before we get into this, it's no secret that Springbank has a lot of hype around their bottles. Its popularity over the past few years has made it rather difficult to find a bottle. I decided to see what the hype is all about and was able to snag one of these bottles for $100 excluding shipping.

Nose: Subtle peaty notes that envelopes a mix of spices and sweet notes. Peppercorn, floral notes and toasty honey is prevalent here, especially when you add a little bit of water.

Palate: There is a lot of complexity in the glass with this one. Prior to adding some water, it has a bit of bite to it, but really brings in a subtle fresh peatyness. Spices, fruits, cinnamon dipped in honey stays around the mouth for a while. The latter notes are even more pronounced with a bit of filtered cool water.

Is this worth the $100 price tag (a bit more in other places)? I think the simple answer here is: Yes. But it's all relevant in what you value out of a whisky at this price point. If you want a great single malt scotch that has a lot of complexity, this is a great bottle. But it would become difficult to recommend this bottle when it's listed for a higher price.

Is it worth the hype? This I am not sure of. I don't regret this purchase, the dram was wonderful on this cold rainy day. It is a delicious bottle of whisky from a respected distillery. And I look forward to pouring another one.