🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

24/7/24

Here’s what whisky should be like in my mind. It fulfills all my expectations of a perfect whisky: sherry cask, sweet, rich, mildly peaty, not sour, and with a long finish. Every sip is satisfying. I rarely leave reviews for a whisky, but this one deserves a comment because it tastes so good.

more smoky and peaty than others in the same series, however once again delicious!

It’s a very typical Springbank bottling with lots of funky notes combined with a maritime edge and a whiff of smoke. This being a very typical Springbank also means it’s very typically awesome. Full review at: https://maltfascination.com/2024/10/22/springbank-12-cask-strength-batch-25-57-2/

Springbank Cask Strength, aged 12 years, 60% ex-Bourbon, 40% ex-Sherry - these are the basic specifications that a whisky nerd wants for a good whisky. The importer specifies a RRP of €74. I have no idea who manages to secure a bottle for that price. Without connections, that's probably not possible. It is currently being offered for double the price at the Dutch store in summer 2024, but there are also German online shops that want €239. That dampens the joy and I'm glad I at least secured a sample. There are different details about the cask composition, sometimes you can find 70% Bourbon and 30% Sherry (e.g. in the base). I am referring here to the information provided by the importer Hanseatische Weinhandelsgesellschaft Bremen about this bottling. glen-efze.de

Scent: Leather, werthers original candies, dried apricots, smoked plum, roasted nuts, papaya, sea breeze, mineral, dust, burnt sugar, dark chocolate Taste: Werthers original candy, toffee, grapefruit, chokeberry, mango, oak, leather, smoked bacon, dark chocolate, raisins in milk chocolate, floral, juicy orange, red apple,

More dirty and more typical SB12 CS

It can almost reach 90 points, the only drawback is that the alcohol is still a little bit strong. Maybe after 20 years of storage, it will be a 91-point wine, hahahaha.

How pleasant this whisky is. Sweet, with unripe fruit, honey and dark chocolate. This is the first time I've encountered whisky that smells pleasantly like fly spray. The alcohol is perfectly integrated into the whole, pleasantly warms and tingles the tongue with a delicate note of mint.

Direct comparison with the batch 12 and 16, this one is a better version.

After interacting with air, it adds flavor and aroma, becoming more harmonious.

Woody, woody gumdrop. Final blind and I’m ready for a calmer ride, that no.4 was a wild ride. Fingers crossed, off we go. On the nose, nice, nothing weird here. This smells rather nice, floral, some warm evening sitting smelling the heat come off a south facing brick wall, hot jasmine, warm vanillin compounds, spices, faintest whiff of cloves (I love the smell of cloves), smelly sock, woody, there a smell that reminds me of Cremo brand Bourbon & Oak body wash - yummy. Cherry menthol gums, fresh ginger this is smelling GREAT. Some toasted coconut, tasty, juicy oak notes, a whisky smelling whisky, if you will. Get the sneaking suspicion it’s going to be a spicy meatball, though. I’m ready for this one. Off we go. In the mouth and yes, sweet, explodes into glorious, woody spiciness, loads of ginger, prickles, tingles, oak, vanilla, a little cheap cola bottle gummy sweet (the cheaper the better and especially the ones that have that slightly dried out outer layer to them, not the Haribo type), hooo! Spicy little number, grips the inside of the mouth, turns up the heat but in a good way and delivers bags of flavour. No bitterness, no astringency but it is a woody bourbon bomb. Very tasty. Well, the last of the 5 blinds and I’ve painted myself into a corner. This must be Scottish but Switzerland is all I have left to choose from. I may be very wrong on this one. Origins aside, I really like it. Keeps you on your toes, not the most relaxing of drams but sometimes that’s just what the doctor ordered. Age? Hmm, 10ish? Bourbon barrel, some sort of heavy char? Swiss (surely not), great dram. I’m sure this would be a cracker with a bit of water but I’ll never know. Unless I buy a bottle. And I fancy one. Let’s see. ————————- Blind revealed and there’s no denying the quality. Come on. Springbank. Pleasing without being benign, enough rough edges and personality to keep things interesting, but made in a way that just resonates like a bow pulled across the strings of a lovely cello, with so many whisky drinkers. It tickles something deep down there. In a world or special editions, bombastic marketing a hyperberly it’s just good whisky done right. That will always please people. IMO

1. Rating immediately after opening the bottle. I will add to the rating if the bottle has had a longer time to oxidize. Today a solid 88 points immediately after opening. Anyone who has had a few 12 CS batches knows that the aromas work even better after a good month or two than with other distilleries. Perhaps this one will also manage the 89 points. Thanks to Scotia Spirit in Cologne for the cool anti-pinball campaign: only 89 euros if you open the hype bottle directly in the shop, 149 euros if you take the bottle with you in its sealed state. Whisky is there to be drunk! I like it a lot - more retailers should offer a promotion like this. A really nice batch, the sherry gives the whisky a nice volume and is more of the dark, creamy but not tartaric type. I really missed the Springbank 12 CS - my old house whisky. For 89 euros and in this quality, I can see why. As far as I'm concerned, there could have been less sherry and more puristic, but this seems to be more in keeping with the modern spirit of the times.

fruity..

Nose: Dry smoke, old dried fruit, dried meat. Mirabelle plums in the background. Palate: Springbank mustiness, hot metal cutlery, medium smoke, mirabelle plums. Caramel. Finish: smoked mirabelle plums. Conclusion: Not bad, not "trendy" either. But it's missing a little something, and the balance is a bit too dry. Edit: also seems a bit too youthful, especially in the finish.

Cinnamon and charcoal in fineness, sweet vanilla with milky Very fruity and warm, compote with subtle rum notes, In the finish some pepper, chocolate, fine and long

A distillery which sometimes is collected more than its drunk - there is a wonderful stillness to this dram - recommend it as a breakfast, lunch and dinner dram. Well worth trying and if you can get it for near the rrp well worth buying.

Undeniably good quality! Anyone who wants to get to know the classic Springbank DNA should definitely get this whisky. No wonder it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a bottle like this at a reasonable price.

No surprises here -- this is dense, flavorful, somewhat funky and meaty, with a good dose of sherry. No sulfur.

On the nose, first there is the dark fruit combined with the subtle smoke and an “opaque” note that I would describe as barnyard. Very complex nose. The sherry cask is very present. There is a lot going on on the tongue. The sherry influence dominates somewhat here too. Overall, a very nice complex malt, with an overhang from the sherry cask.

End of the bottle, superb batch

Solid 12 yo Springbank. Nothing more than that.. Don't pay €150 + for it..

No dominant sweet notes, alcohol harshness, or tannins. Simply delicious.Easy to drink neat, a quality single malt. Simply superb and enjoyable with every sip. Rich nectar of the gods. Malt, honey. Dark sugar, caramels, barley sugar, quite soft and creamy, vanilla, well integrated spices. A big touch of class without any explosion of harshness from the alcohol however lacks a bit of Wow factor.

Nice dram. Better than batch 26, 28

Typical Springbank, relatively much smoke, relatively much pleasant sherry (for 30%). Water recommended.

simply the best dram I have ever had.

The Springbank 10 is my favorite standard whisky, I always enjoy it. This CS is in a whole different category, what a great whisky. Actually everything is right, except for the price of the retailers and bottle flippers.

Comparing to the past is meaningless. just enjoy this delicious dram

Nose - sweetness and crispness. Vanilla cream, caramel pudding. Jellies in sugar. Fruity toffee. Roasted walnuts and cashews. Apples and apricots. Cake with plums. Large sultanas, Nutella cream. Apple pie with cinnamon. Dried apricots, candied fruit, dried banana and coconut shavings. Dried and lightly smoked plum, dessert chocolate. Lemon with mint and grapefruit juice. Some sea air and salt. Wet stones, damp earth. A slightly musty cellar. A workshop with tools, woodworking. A bit of grease, some varnish and stain. Crushed coloured pepper. Taste - sweetness with a slight bitterness. Fruity sweetness, papaya, kaki, peach and slightly unripe mango. Sweetness of caramel and toffee. Pancake with lots of maple syrup. Warm, degassed cola. Jellies in sugar. Dessert chocolate with sultanas and roasted cashew nuts. Plums in chocolate. Currant juice with mango. Cinnamon candies. Ginger and lemongrass. Lime and some salt. Chokeberry bitterness and grapefruit. Some gentle spiciness of coloured pepper and a definite dose of chilli. Finish - long, fresh and dried fruit, light smokiness and roasted nuts, bitter chocolate, cask bitterness and spiciness https://whiskymylife.wordpress.com/2024/11/04/springbank-12-yo-cask-strength-572-batch-25/

Springbank and more, 18Nov2024: Kilkerran 8yo CS Sherry Matured (2024) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/248082/kilkerran-08-year-old 86+ Hazelburn 8yo Open Day 2024 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/254113/hazelburn-08-year-old 87+ Springbank 12yo CS#24 (2023) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/232398/springbank-12-year-old 88+ Springbank 12yo CS#25 (2024) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/255271/springbank-12-year-old 88- Springbank 15yo (21/110) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/192616/springbank-15-year-old 88+ Springbank 18yo (23/96) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/236915/springbank-18-year-old 89-

fresh bottle

A lovely batch. The nose is initially somewhat understated (time in the glass is beneficial here), but the real pleasure begins immediately on the palate. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially due to its full body, the original aromatic composition, and the lush fruit notes. The finish is also very pleasant, with a distinctly tropical and fruity aftertaste. It's hard to believe this bottling has over 57% ABV.

Nice piece. But it needs a bit of water so that the Springbank mustiness comes through properly. The sherry is just an accompaniment to this bottling. But I think it's great. Bourbon and Springbank is a great combination, which is why I'm very happy with the choice of casks. On the nose it reminds me a lot of the 10, but with a lot more smoke. Orange. Vanilla. Nutmeg. A little spiciness. The sherry is much more present on the tongue, where it's more like a 15. Nice, slightly sticky sweetness. Strawberries with steak pepper. Salted caramel with blackcurrant jelly. The whole thing burnt on the grill. Drying out. Very nice. I like it a lot. Another excellent 12CS bottling.

This whisky is just good. It is incredibly well balanced and despite being cask strength you can drink it without adding water. The taste lives up to the promise of the smell: plums, raisins, vanilla, pleasant rubber smell, sea breeze, honey... yes, a little smoke perhaps, but very subtle and pleasant. The aftertaste is long and you remember this whisky long after you have tasted it. I am not a collector and am annoyed by dealers who sell well above the RRP, especially as Springbank is asking a fair price for this. In my opinion, the bottle is definitely worth 100 euros, as you will be drinking it for a while. The world of whisky is so colorful, but Springbank is still unique in this respect. Unfortunately, I have not found this taste profile at any other distillery.

Random bag of goodies, 22.Sep.2024: Kilkerran WiP#7 Bourbon Wood CS https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/67379/kilkerran-work-in-progress 88+ Bruichladdich 18yo https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/239274/bruichladdich-18-year-old 87+ Springbank 12yo CS#25 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/255271/springbank-12-year-old 88+ Springbank 18yo (23/96) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/236915/springbank-18-year-old 89- Springbank 20yo SS 2003 Port https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/251383/springbank-2003 89- Springbank 21yo PB 2000 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/219665/springbank-2000 90+

[May 2025] No need to write a comprehensive review... ...'cause this is just another average-quality Springbank. Easy to sip when focussing on different things (like playing cards), but of minor interest for any detailed investigation. In the latter case I suggest to go for older batches. By the way, I like it best when reduced to about 50% abv.

N: Sweet!, baking sugar cookies, vanilla and caramel, sherry, mechanic’s shop, leather P +Body (L/M/F): Full body, rich, sweet sherry fruits, spice, cola, hint of herbal notes, slight drying/tannic F +Length (S/M/L): Long finish, herbal/menthol, spice, bitter chocolate Score: 92/100 | 8/10 | 4/5 | Dramface Scale: Something special

Good whisky, but the price-performance ratio is absolutely terrible. Simply godlessly overhyped.

I don't know why, but the first smell had a dirty note and a hint of watermelon, along with a slightly cooling menthol. In the mouth, this dirtiness (light smoke), sweetness and a diffuse fruity note dominate. Unfortunately, I expected more.

I have had several Springbank 12 CS in my glass, but with many of them (batch 21, 22, 19) I only had one or two drams to test with like-minded people, so I would rather refrain from giving a more comprehensive review. I think you have to taste the malt several times over a longer period of time to be able to give a valid review. I have a large bottle of each of batch 23 and 24, 25 and compared to 23, batch 25 is perhaps slightly weaker (but still at a high level, that may change as experience shows that Springbank 12s are even better with oxygen) - batch 24, on the other hand, is significantly behind. For me, the Springbank muff goes perfectly with a high proportion of bourbon casks, but that is of course a matter of taste. Heavy oil from ship engines is always present. And the apricots, peaches and passion fruit as well as slightly sour pineapple (in my opinion all aromas from the bourbon cask storage) fit perfectly into the picture. I can only taste raisins, nuts and heavier dark fruits (more from the sherry cask storage) rudimentarily, and perhaps dried plums, which is good in combination with the engine oil. Raspberries? Yep, I have them too, in my nose, not in my mouth. The alcohol is perfectly integrated. The whole thing seems full-bodied again and has a higher viscosity. The aromas mentioned above permeate the nose and palate. Chilli chocolate and umami impressions add up in the mouth. Then comes the pleasantly warming, slightly oily, salty finale in the throat with various herbs, chocolate and oak wood including a little soot. An explosion of flavor, as I had hoped for. The spectrum of aromas is always complemented by salty, clearly mineral impressions. Yes, you can taste the predominantly European oak wood quite clearly at the end, but I think that works quite well. All in all, not too sweet and not too spicy/bitter. This batch is also well balanced. OK... and what am I missing compared to batch 23? Perhaps a little of the stronger, smoky vanilla from the Quercus Alba wood (American white oak). Batch 25 is still really good and also a real pleasure, hence 89 (+) points, which puts it pretty far ahead in the range of 12 CS that I have had in my glass at least once. I congratulate everyone who got the bottle for under €100. But for me it's worth the €130, as it's quite hard to get hold of. For me, there are hardly any better malts for €130, but many worse ones. 07.07.2024: I have now spent two days working intensively on it..., okay, it already gets the 90(-)P today, but only with water, which makes it softer, smoother and more complex on the palate. ;-) Further upgrades could be made later consequences.

88.5

Great old school spring. The sherry is very noticeable, although there is not much of it. Everything is in place. Tasty, rich, classic. A typical spring bank: neither add nor subtract. Caramel, vanilla, minerals, peat, meat broth, chutney, cherry jam, chocolate. A strange but very tasty mixture.

So i finally managed to sit down proper with the new springbank 12.. and the first thing that comes to mind is about the awsome quality of the sherry casks they used on this pretty beast of Campbeltown .. it has a certain fruity-with-oak quality that i met in old cognacs.. sweet and robust, elegant and floral, harsh just about right, very well involved alcohol.. delicious, but also intelectual.. and if one thougjt that the 12 cask strength series from was getting a bit boring, they bring out this beauty that just shines in its own simple splendor.. there is rose and raspberries on the nose, salty chocolate and ginger on the palate.. while the finish closes dry, a reminder that this son of Campbeltown is, well, still a kid in whisky-years.. this is a true Christmas whisky and i plan to wait for Santa while sipping on this!

Quick hit review. Rumor has it that this might be the best batch of Springbank 12 in recent years. Juicy oranges, herbal teas and whiffs of peat smoke reach my nose, giving way to complex spices, marzipan and farmyard funk. We are starting strong. A juicy fruit explosion accompanies the intense and warming arrival, think of passion fruit, lemon drops and peppery oak. Great mouthfeel. Savory notes, tobacco and salty licorice emerge. The sooty finish is marked by candied fruits, various herbs and measured tannins. I concur, this is a stunning batch! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]

Genting, which has always been famous for its quality, really amazed me. The wonderful sour feeling that was gradually released in the mouth made me clap my hands in joy. The aroma is rich, complex, and layered. It can't be called amazing, but it's just right. The only downside is that the aftertaste is a little short. The good taste is fleeting, which may not be considered a disadvantage from other perspectives.

It's good, let's get that out of the way. Having said that, the alcohol stings, especially in the nose. I think this one needs a few years in the bottle to mellow down - even though the aromas and flavours are there. It reminds me of a very herbaceous barbeque at times. It's not super smokey, but herbal. Not something I've come across often in other malts. I would've guessed the sherry influence was greater than 30%, because I get quite a lot of sherry flavours. The Springbank "funk" is present and I don't get any sulfur (which can often be the case in sherried SBs). Finish is shorter than you'd imagine, but then again it's 12 years old. All in all a successful batch as far as I'm concerned, if only the alcohol was a bit better integrated.

Just sublime, I get so much of the funk and the sherry and bourbon cask are working in perfect harmony with the spirit

aroma Sprinbank muff, smoke, plum, spices, herbs, wood spice The taste Sherry sweetness, smoke, very spicy, salty notes?, woody notes, citrus notes Resonance Medium long, slightly astringent, sweet spicy

Very good. For me it is confirmed as the best 12 cask strenght ob! Space nose, Orange biscuits with chocolate chips (in Italy ciocchini), light lactic note, condensed milk, spices, cinnamon, very long hay.

dirty, red fruits, berries, chocolate, cinnamon, oak, raisins, plums, vanilla, orange, cooked fruits, bit of smoke, not bad

Compared to 10, 12 cs is still worth the hype for me :), for me feels older then it is. needs time to open up

And again a real moped! Really top stuff

With a few drops of water, the malt becomes fruitier, deeper and closer in character to Batch 27. [88~91] complex, interesting, fun, I can spend more time with it, "I want to have it" :-D

The 12 years of maturation were perfectly utilized by this malt. It definitely tastes a few years older than its age on the label suggests. The two cask types complement each other very well in their aromatics. I'm surprised by the intensity and oak spice that the small proportion of sherry casks brings. This is truly rare to find these days, especially with so many sherry-seasoned casks. https://www.aboutwhisky.de/tastingnotes/springbank-12-jahre-cask-strength-batch-25/

Good one. With Springbank dirt and funk, some sulphur, and soap offnote. Needs some time and air to reduce downsides.

Amber color. Oily structure.

Finally a truly dry Sherry

Great whisky and fortunately exactly as expected. Fruity, mineral, spicy, light peat, strong and all in balance. Today, with more experience, you appreciate such a whisky differently - 04.10.2024

This whisky was tasted blind as a part of a whisky advent calendar.

Good one. With Springbank fruitiness, brightness, dirt and funk, some sulphur, and soap offnote. Needs some time and air to reduce downsides.

Sweet & dirty, very tasty, though not quite as funky as previous vintages. Overall, though, really good.

Overall, a successful batch, but not overly complex. It tolerates water well. Despite the addition of water, it can't quite shake off its youthful edge due to the slight alcohol sharpness, which I haven't experienced in this form in other batches, but it's something you can overlook. The Springbank funk is definitely there, along with the fruit, the smoke, the salt. If you can get it at around the recommended retail price (I paid €79), I'd definitely buy it. However, in my opinion, it's not worth much more than €100, which is what it's often offered for.

Superb! In my opinion, one of the best batches of recent years. The first dram was just "yes, yes" on the nose, finally a real hit, although the 12 CS can also do with a little oxygen to fully develop. This batch here is on point from the start and gives me a real back to the roots feeling. And that's despite the fact that the roots of the 12 CS are actually 60% sherry / 40% bourbon and Batch #25, on the other hand, comes with a massive 70% bourbon vs. 30% sherry. That's definitely something to think about a little.

Melting brown sugar drowned in caramel, dates, dried figs, licorice, at first it's Sherry, then more typical markers appear, iodized freshness, fresh hay, young wood, all with some blackberries and other plums. Very light seductive smoke, blocks of charcoal at the very bottom. On the palate, it's sweet, on fermented fruits, a touch of vanilla, woody bitterness, percolator coffee, with a square of dark chocolate, not too strong spices, nutmeg and pepper. Long, woody, caramelized finish, cocoa bean, ginger and other various spices. I found it very gourmand, marked by Sherry, the influence of Bourbon is barely perceptible, the mouth especially is very successful, it feels like jam. On the other hand, the nose needs time to settle in, at the beginning it was alcoholic and not very complex, then the smoke rises and gives a very nice balance, the sensation of alcohol disappears. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2024/07/springbank-12-yo-cask-strength-2024.html

Classic Springbank 12, tastes like Springbank should taste, no sulphur, no bad sherry, tolerates water.

Best taste

You are and will remain just #shitpinballers. Original retail price is €85/95 #pezzidefango.

Simply a great malt! Earthy smoke, mineral and slightly maritime. Smoked peaches and lots of spices. Brine and marzipan.

This review was written in Korean and translated with ChatGPT

aroma: milk chocolate, raisins, caramel, musty dusty book, orange, plum, a bit of a metallic note? Mango, hay 88 taste: thick, musty, garage, sweet, salty, mineral, leather, dessert chocolate, dark berries, orange peel, marmalade, green tart tea, tobacco, caramel, molasses, prunes, dried raspberries 89 finish: medium length, dried berries, peel, mineral light peat 87.5

I generally don't drink the 12 CS immediately after opening. These malts need to wait another 3-6 months, but then you get a fantastic, unique Springbank experience.

Classic Springbank, it doesn't disappoint. Beautifully saline and earthy together, very complex. Has a great level of nuttiness.

The best thing I've ever tasted

Damn!

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2024, 57.2%. 25ml sample at home, October 2024. Mid tone amber. Aroma is menthol and dried spearmint mixed with hard cheese rind and polished brass, a strong high note of old dried-out limes with a note somewhere between black pepper and burnt wax. Lesser notes of dried green apple and old refill oak. Spirit-led, which is always a good thing, and this whisky in particular really showcases the distillery character on the nose. More and more sherried when given time, which makes it more pleasant but less 'interesting' and more generic. Body is watery to lightly oily. Taste - the 57.2% is shockingly well concealed, and there is no spiritous heat to it. The raisin flavours from the sherry casks come through quite strongly throughout, and there’s some saltiness. Building pepper on the finish. Slightly astringent and faintly cheesy on the linger. The distillery character is far more subtle on the palate and, like on the aroma, the sherry cask character comes through more and more with time. Does come across as quite simplistic at times taste-wise (the aroma can never be accused of that) but I still find myself steadily enjoying it more and more with each sip. I'd be happy with a bottle if I could get one close to RRP. 3.55/85

Beautiful but typical sherry makes up the majority of the experience, with raisins being the main note. There is depth with a BBQ meatiness in the background that I enjoy, but also some ash. The delivery is thick and pleasant, but is reduced with water. The finish is rather weak

First, new leather shoes, a bit of cowshed but also salty, smoky coastal notes - some of them very modern Springbanky! It floats relatively well, but unfortunately the flavors aren't as dense as in FS! I would still add water, though, as that would help bring out the Springbank DNA better!

Lemon, vegetal, funk, dirty peat, vanilla Oily, herbaceous peat, citrus peel, custard Peppery, oak, varnish

Blog to be found on www.longpouramour.com My conclusion: "A very decent release once again in the cask strength series, that has seen 25 batches so far. This year’s expression was less to my liking, but still it is a solid dram. The more apparent peaty influence is a nice touch." https://longpouramour.com/springbank/

Aroma-Pronounced；Palate-88/100; Aftertaste-Med-Long；

Dominant sweet bourbon notes with a hint of sherry. Features the classic Springbank funk with vanilla, faint raisins, and oak, along with earthy notes of dust and hay. The 'funk' on the swallow is really interesting and adds a fun character to the dram.

The sherry cask has a strong presence in the wine. It's very sweet, but not quite rounded enough, and tastes slightly astringent.

Fruity, chalky. Powerful and sweet on the palate. The flavor goes right down to the throat. I like it even more than I did last time. It's truly a fine wine.

tried the 100 proof from a couple years back lately, this is way better. sb 12 2020 was also very good, a bit different ofcourse. I hope j & a mitchells start another distillery. the demand for this style is huge. and glen scotia does not hit the mark for me like a SB does.

Of course this is good, but very surprisingly not outstanding. Would prefer two regular 10 over 12cs, due to price/quality factor. Or any local barley of course.

Had this one in a blind tasting: Nice balance of fruitiness and peatiness. Very pleasant dram.

Nose: A wealth of red fruits and sherry. Sweet and cookie-like, with notes of almonds, licorice, vanilla, slightly burnt caramel, and popcorn. In the background, there are tropical fruits and oriental spices. Palate: Definitely drier. The alcohol is slightly noticeable. Baked apples, red fruits, bubblegum. Sesame, almonds, oatmeal cookies. Lots of caramel. Finish: Quite long, warming, with strong notes of ginger and nutmeg.

Mighty One of the most popular releases of Springbank is without a doubt their 12 year old at cask strength. I got this sample from Koen from Rare Vintage Whisky, an online shop in Leek (NL). Thanks for that! I previously tasted batches 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. No idea why I missed the 24 (or the releases before 19). Too much whisky, not enough time, let's leave it at that and immediately put this Batch 25 to my lips. The composition this time is 70% bourbon and 30% sherry. The nose is softly peaty, green and herbal, but above all deliciously fruity on red apples, gooseberries and unripe banana. A handful of nuts and even a bit of marzipan appears, under a layer of seawater, I kid you not. Finally a bit of butterscotch and a beautiful touch of menthol and cinnamon. Great. Silky smooth, but immediately deliciously spicy. Very spicy on chili, cinnamon, black pepper and a touch of liquorice. Immediately sweet and fruity on the one hand, but drying and earthy on the other, where you immediately notice that the sherry casks have had just the right influence on the spirit of Springbank. This is a powerful whisky. The finish is medium to long, sweet versus salty with a nice spiciness. Salted caramel on and chewing tobacco on the deathbed. It should come as no surprise that Springbank is so hard to get a hold of these days. The output is decent, but not massive, and the quality is definitely high. You do the math. Thanks again for the sample, Koen! This and other nice Springbank releases can be found here in his shop.

2x the 12 cask strength, batch 13 and batch 25. Both 70% Bourbon 30% sherry. Almost the same abv. The color is almost identical. Batch 13 is fruitier and a bit softer on the nose and taste while the finish is a bit more peppery. What a series the 12 CS wow I really love this whisky!

RMB 1650/bottle It's a good wine, but the price is a bit high. The value for money isn't as good as the 10-year-old.

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength Batch No. 25 shares a very similar aromatic profile with Springbank 15, especially in its light peat and sharp dried-fruit character. However, the 12 CS feels more peat-forward on the palate and finish, while the 15 felt more restrained and more nutty. Despite the higher alcohol strength, this batch does not immediately come across as explosive in the mouth. The first impression is surprisingly gentle, even slightly watery at the front, before the peat and oily texture begin to show themselves. It is not overly sweet, not particularly bourbon-forward on the nose, and not as nutty as the 15, but it has a clearer peaty aftertaste and a more tactile finish. In short, this feels like a more rugged and peat-expressive sibling of Springbank 15, though not necessarily a denser or richer one.