Springbank 12-year-old

Overall rating
87.08/100
votes
405
Whiskybase ID
WB105550
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Cask Strength
Bottled
04.01.2018
Stated Age
12 years old
Casktype
70% Sherry / 30% Bourbon Casks
Casknumber
Batch 16
Number of bottles
15000
Strength
56.3 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Bottle code
04/01/18 18/001
Barcode
610854547004
Added on
26 dec 2017 3:03 pm by GlenPiWi
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask Strength
Springbank 12-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Springbank 12-year-old
Photo by 7h0r3en
Springbank 12-year-old
Photo by 7h0r3en
Springbank 12-year-old
Photo by jagblack
Springbank 12-year-old
Photo by HwiskyNut
Springbank 12-year-old
Photo by Dris

Average value

€ 604.82

Found 2 online shops. Lowest price:

£ 495.00
Singapore The Whisky Shop Singapore € 633.85
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Whisky reviews for Springbank 12-year-old

70 users have left 76 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.08 points.

  1. Archer scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    In the last batch gabs still a hint of Kuhstall, here it is marzipan in the nose. Always a small feature, but always with the same basic character and the same high level.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Same same but different. The lick salt is there, the dried fruits (apricots, dates), salt, vanilla ... But there is also something I have not had in any 12 CS since the 7th batch: a clear marzipan note. And she's gone again. Now wet hay (without Kuhstallgeruch), pepper, cloves, juniper berries, bay leaves, a little tree resin.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Sherrysweet at the start, no sign of sulfur. Quick turn into the spice, without losing contact with the sweetness (now wildflower honey). Salt and pepper, again a lot of spices (see nose), orange peel, slightly roasted.

      From the marzipan note from the nose there is nothing to find on the tongue, but nougat chocolate. Becomes a bit over time.
    • Finish
      90 90
      Long and dry, salt liquorice, orange peel, mild herbs.

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  3. Dris scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Springbank 12yo Cask Strength Extravaganza: 2022.11.12.

    Now that it’s been more than a year since the last release of the last CS12yo I saw it fit to go into my sample cabinet and dig up all the batches I could find. Here is what it resulted in: a gargantuan tasting of 13 different batches. I had to turn to decimal scores to do justice to this session (this is something I haven’t done before, mind you). In Order of my preference:

    Batch #21 (45% Sherry, 25% Bourbon, 25% Burgundy 5% Port) 56.1%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/168596
    87.2 / 86.4 / 85.6
    This one is a bit of a confused batch for me, too much is going on at the same time. It has some nice pine resin notes and lots of wet wine cask character. The cask influence takes over distillery character too much for my taste.
    86.4

    Batch #12 (65% Sherry, 35% Bourbon) 54.1%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/77708
    87.4 / 87.2 / 87.3
    This batch drinks quite a bit younger than its age. There is a sulphury quality on the nose and a particular earthy smokiness.
    87.3

    Batch #22 (50% Sherry, 50% Bourbon) 55.4%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/183244
    87.4 / 87.8 / 87.2
    Most definitely, a modern style of SB distillate, the funkiness is elevated, and I even find some of the HB bitterness on the finish, I like this style. The spicy, resinous European oak is rather present on the palate.
    87.4

    Batch #16 (70% Sherry, 30% Bourbon) 56.3%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/105550
    87.8 / 88.2 / 87.4
    This one has a good balance of sherry and bourbon, some roastiness, dried fruits, wood smoke, some nuttiness even. The malt comes through cleanly with lots of vanilla and floral notes, there is just a hint of menthol as well.
    87.8

    Batch #13 (70% Sherry, 30% Bourbon) 56.3%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/85595
    88.2 / 88.4 / 87.2
    A more sherry forward batch with intense spiciness and complex boiled or candied fruit notes. Camphor, dirty distillate - farmyard, drying woodiness on the finish.
    87.9

    Batch #18 (50% Bourbon, 50% Sherry) 54.8%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/125395
    88.2 / 88.4 / 87.6
    This has some very nice honied sweetness as well as floral freshness accompanying the rich maltiness and spiciness of the spirit. Fresh and white-oak-forward.
    88.1

    Batch #17 (70% Sherry, 30% Bourbon) 56.2%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/116449
    88.4 / 88.6 / 87.6
    Intense, rich maltiness, vibrant spices and honey. Minerally distillate, earthy smoke in beautiful balance with the fruity, syrupy cask influence.
    88.2

    Batch#23 (100% Bourbon) 55.9%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/192086
    88.6 / 89.0 / 88.2
    Very modern green type of American oak influence. A bit sappy, almost too sweet… but the creamy texture and the floral barley character comes through from the spirit, making it a very clean, juicy expression from the distillery. Most definitely dominated by the first-fill white oak.
    88.6

    Batch #19 (65% Bourbon, 35% Sherry Casks) 57.1%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/138854
    88.6 / 89.4 / 88.4
    Smoky, dirty, resinous. Roasted malt and a bit of waxiness from the distillate. Strong honey note, vanilla, ripe fruits, and a touch of sulphur alongside the SB funk.
    88.8

    Batch #20 (35% Sherry, 65% Bourbon) 55.3%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/148336
    89.6 / 89.4 / 88.4
    Heavy body, creamy, malty, spirit driven. Nice depth and sweetness from the reserved sherry influence. The barley comes through clearly, heavy oily texture, farmy, funky aromas. Almost reminiscent of the recent local barleys.
    89.2

    Blues Edition (100% Bourbon) 57.3%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/21544
    88.6 / 90.2 / 89.4
    A masterpiece in floral bourbon maturation. Leathery, waxy and dirty, exploding with floral complexity and mineral hay notes. Almost no smoke, but a tiny bit of farminess. Drinks considerably older than 12 years.
    89.4

    Batch #15 (70% Sherry, 30% Bourbon) 56.5%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/99298
    89.2 / 89.6 / 89.4
    Strong, spicy sherry influence, concentrated smoky fruitiness. Earthy vanilla, oily barley and pronounced farmy funk. This is one of the most intense batches and one of the dirtiest. The style of ‘dirty’ sherry casks is reminiscent of the old-school SB-sherry-funk.
    89.4

    Batch #9 (100% Sherry) 54.3%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/57458
    90.2 / 90.2 / 89.4
    Elegant and fruity style of sherry comint through. Classic oloroso aromas, in perfect harmony with the dry and farmyard-y spirit. Spices from the resinous European oak, white pepper nutmeg, vegetal freshness and honied floral notes. Dry maltiness, some plaster, earthy smoke; all enveloped in thick juicy sherry.
    89.9

    And the baseline: Springbank 10yo (20/151) 46%
    https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/180670
    87.6 / 87.4 / 87.2
    Fresh woody and yeasty. Bitter funkiness not unlike HB, and some plaster. Fresh floral honey, some damp hay, dried apples and pears, waxy texture, barley-sweetness. Camphor and sharp spices give more depth.
    87.4
    • Nose
      88 88
      87.8
    • Taste
      88 88
      88.2
    • Finish
      87 87
      87.4

  4. JJKATED scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Really nice when put it in mouth
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  5. gaboruso scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  6. Vashalme scored this whisky 84 points Member Junior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      85 85

  7. oleg.wx scored this whisky 90 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  8. TimkoT scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  9. TimkoT scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  10. Tangtang_WhiskyYoda scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    nice smoky profile.
    Seems a bit dirty, which is very coherent in the combination that this malt offers.
    • Nose
      91 91
      greasy smoke, dirty, dark fruits, smoked ham, subtly sweet which is later covered by a salty note
    • Taste
      90 90
      sweet Smoky, dark fruits, pepper, some smoked ham, salty
    • Finish
      89 89
      aromatic smoke, dark fruits, again the smoked ham and a slight dirty note. The salty is back too.

  11. Ostap scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    02/10/2022:
    Excellent series, stable quality. Rich, unquestionably sherry. An interesting mix of salinity and dessert. Due to the bright sherry, oscomina appears quickly.
    • Nose
      88 88
      Soft peat, salty notes of algae, seaweed chips, bright fruit background, smoke, candy, vanilla, pickled apple, pronounced sherry, milk chocolate with raisins, wild berries, oak, a hint of dried mushrooms, Soviet pastille.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Sherry, berry, burnt strawberry jam, sour, smoky, mineral, salty lacquer.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Sour, wild berries, long, knits, sherry, oak, smoke, head, fondant, lacquer, with a salty note.

  12. LDB scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Outstanding quality as always.
    Maybe a little less smoke and dirt than usual.
    • Nose
      Wet bread, unripe fruits and menthol freshness.
    • Taste
      Machine oil, clay & tart fruits.
    • Finish
      Long seasoning, dry & spicy.

  13. elipszis scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
      sherry
      burnet sugar
      toffee
      salty
      peppermint
      cherry
      mandarin
    • Taste
      87 87
      sherry
      woody
      oily
      sweet-bitter
      bitter cherry
    • Finish
      86 86
      bitter
      vegetables
      medium short

  14. ConvalRen scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    The sulphur is nice but it's very metallic. Not my cup of tea on the metallic note.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      85 85

  15. eselsim scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    21/21/21/21 84

    easy daily dram

    56,3 well covered by sherry
    • Nose
      85 85
      dried meat and carmel, vanilla and red overripe fruits fruits, hints of espresso and cinnamon baked apples
    • Taste
      84 84
      medium peatiness coconut shreds in chocolate glaze, candied orange peel and more robust coffee notes, somewhat dry, and a tricky one - quince! not often do I detect this one
    • Finish
      82 82
      Licorice and salty finish, slightly sulfury

  16. jykoo scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    Compare both batch 13 and 16 (WD Id: WB85595). All have the same 56.3%abv. Both were using 70% Sherry and 30% Bourbon Casks. At first both of it are quite similar, after a couple more minutes; they started to show the differences. Batch 13 show higher intensity and more sherry influences. While batch 16 show a more lively character.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Medium intensity. compare to batch 13, this one is a bit less intense and I get more fresh fruit in it. More acidity and less sweetness. Orange, lemon peel, baked apple, apricot, raisins. Braised meat with a lot of spice, ginger, nutmeg ,cinnamon and cardamom. There is a little hint of sulphuric note which i don't get in the batch 13. Let is sit for another 20 mins, there are some daily, chessy, nutty and savoury note like the parmigiano reggiano.
    • Taste
      88 88
      High intense, sweet and some acidity. Much more dried fruit, umeshu. Some bitterness and okiness.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Medium + finish, licorice, some tabaco

  17. Don Cassi scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Buttery and meaty, very idiosyncratic and characteristic, almost cheesy. In addition, a trace of warm smoke and some apricot.
    Length: 6/10

    Great malt with recognition value, but the meaty, cheesy notes are perhaps a bit too much for a top rating

    Grade: 2+

  18. Apikalov scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  19. g2ther scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  20. M134481 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
      Orange peel, tobacco, light smoke, lemongrass, vanilla, white pepper, pineapple juice, Granny Smith and white grape.
    • Taste
      85 85
      Orange peel, white pepper, tobacco, light smoke, dark chocolate, pineapple juice, Granny Smith, salted meat, tart but also sweet extracts such as marzipan and cotton candy.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Orange zest, white pepper, tobacco, light smoke, dark chocolate, pineapple juice, Granny Smith, tart, vanilla, salted meat, cotton candy and marzipan.

  21. Dre73 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Nice, at first some peat and smoke, in time it gets more and more fruitier. Red fruits. Nice batch.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Fruity with a peated touch, citrus, lemon. Earthy notes as well, quite some alcohol.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Powerful, pepper, some peat and more red fruits now, berries. Some sour edge underneath. Later on more fruits and less peat.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Still powerful, pepper, more smoke now, red fruits, berries, pretty long.

  22. Shogun8888 scored this whisky 94 points Expert Junior

    On dried fruits, spices, caramel and gourmet notes

    This limited edition is superb!

  23. Schafranek scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  24. OJK scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Fish sauce, dill, marshmallow and tar. Fat and buttery palate with smoked coconut spongecake, and almonds wrapped in seaweed. The wonderful expected unexpected that comes with these Springbank 12's.

  25. Макс scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      87 87

  26. coldsun scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Very tasty and interesting whisky. A lot of different and stable elements which are greatly mixed and balanced in all tasting parts (nose, palate and finish and that's why I will not describe them separately).
    From the first moments this whisky is opened with powerful notes of spring blossom, bakery wrapped into peaty smoke. Then appear notes of vanilla, barley malt, chocolate and of course Oloroso sherry. All the notes are stable and long, bold and deep and really remarkable. The great style of Springbank.

  27. Malzbrenner scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Springbank 12, cask strength Batch 16 from 2018.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Initially undiluted, the dram exudes the dirty spring banknote in combination with fruity sweetness. The light peat note together with spicy wood and fruity sweetness appear complex and round.
      With a little water, the fruit comes out better and a soft sandalwood note with a little banana appears.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Undiluted the Whsiky is too spicy for me, so I reduce it to 50% vol .; now the sweetness and fruit is wonderfully pronounced and the light peat note is accompanied by a tingling freshness. The dram is oily and full.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Medium to long, freshness dominates first, followed by dryness. Then delicate smoke aromas set in and spicy wood follows.

  28. valasios scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  29. lustaufwhisky scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    Nose:
    Sweet dried fruits such as apricots and plums dominate at the beginning. A fine sea breeze with spices (clove, pepper) and a slight smokiness follow. I also notice a fine note of marzipan with vanilla.
    •
    Taste:
    The nose can also be found in the taste. First you get dark dried fruit and some honey sweetness. Chocolate and orange zest immediately follow. With a fine note of salt on my lips, I now taste the spices. The alcohol is well integrated. •
    •
    Outlet:
    Long lasting maritime with fruits and spices.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  30. sascuas scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Need a quite time in the glass, at least 20 minutes.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  31. 33rdCASK scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  32. TsiAI scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Room temperature when drinking: 25 ℃

    Seeing Eyes: Golden smells Nose: Motor oil, mandarin fish, blue cheese, it's here again. The sweetness is even worse batch 15, coconut sugar, red date cake, heavy cheese cake. Occasionally, the peculiar green flavor of cereals and vegetable strips appears, and there is coffee milk chocolate faintly. Expired yogurt and sour milk. The waves were violent and slammed against the reefs. There was a large landfill under the coal mine. Although the tobacco smell is not heavy, it always reminds me of selling fish and smoking 5 cigarettes at the same time. It's really dirty, primitive, and really nice. Batch15 may have been released for a long time, and nose is not as expressive as this one.
    Taste Palate: fermented sour beans, medium sweet, milky, honeydew. The mid-level greasy rush to the top, the smelly mandarin fish, fried stinky tofu, motor oil, minerals, and the bitter taste of salt. At the end of the round, the milk taste and the peach mousse whirled twice.
    End rhyme Finish: Medium length, personally digging coal, dust, wood stubble, lightly seasoned white meat, hand-made steamed bun body: Medium, full of fat, no tannins, bitter bottom appears wonderful. The downside is that the wine does n’t keep up with the palate, and the grease and firmness are worse than batch 15.

    Nose: 88/100
    Palate: 88.5 / 100
    Finish: 87/100
    Body: 87/100
    Overall: 88/100

    Overall: If batch 18 is a girl wearing pearl earrings, then batch 16 is a young woman wearing leopard-print mink, a world famous painting

  33. penumbra scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Salt and pepper, salted butter, dried cheese, condensed milk, almond milk, peanut oil, citrus, ash, light peat
      The aroma of milk and fat is relatively rich.
    • Taste
      Full and plump, rich in oil and slightly spicy.
      Sea salt, dry cheese, coconut milk, almond cookies, salt-roasted ginkgo fruit, citrus, herbs, ash.
    • Finish
      Long time, sea salt, cheese, stove ash.

  34. Karlmalt scored this whisky 87 points Member Senior

    Nose
    Spices, dried fruit, vanilla, slightly peat
    Taste
    A little rough, dry, peppery, spicy, slightly salty, vanilla, liqorice, pears, raisins and caramel
    Finish
    malty, spicy, dried fruit, and slightly oaky.

    Need some water to open up

  35. IIIZIII scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    2019.02.22
    • Nose
      Sherried peatiness. Malty, very slight vegetal note. Fresh nutty notes
    • Taste
      Very soft, even without water. Etherial. Red fruits

  36. KeesD scored this whisky 67 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      82 82
      Not special
    • Taste
      60 60
      Too much alcohol
      Too sharp, too little sweetness
    • Finish
      60 60
      Sharp in the throat

  37. ThinLizzy scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  38. 11insomnium scored this whisky 76 points Expert Senior

    Not very complex. With water, the low sweetness disappears completely. Slightly less spicy than the 15y. The sherry portion is barely recognizable.
    • Nose
      Caramel, vanilla, very fruity and spicy, some smoke
    • Taste
      Fresh, strong and slightly hot, smoky, slightly sweet
    • Finish
      Spicy, smoky and slightly dry, oak

  39. Cubey666 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Tasted this whisky at a tasting session at Passie voor Whisky on the 5th of May 2018.

    oily, minerals, hint of smoke, sweet. Nothing out of the ordinary, but very good!
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  40. MattDoobie scored this whisky 92 points Member Senior

    Nose
    As I’m approaching the glass, not even quite there yet I get hit by intense peat smoke, sugar sweetness and fresh fruit. Very powerful nose! Upon closer inspection, there’s a minerality accompanied by honey and pungent brine and seaweed. Digging deeper there is some raisins, chomeur’s pudding and a weird cheesy note. 23/25

    Palate
    Strong fruity and chocolaty arrival that coats the tongue and mouth. Honey and barley sweetness take residence on the tongue while some peat, fruit, spices and alcohol-induced effervescence travel along the insides of the cheeks. Like the nose advertised, this dram is an assertive beast that doesn’t wait for you to guess what you’re tasting. 23/25

    Finish
    Medium slightly drying finish high on stewed fruits and honey that develops into a malty note and at the death, ash. 21/25

    Value and presentation
    At 110$ CAD, it is priced rather well for a cask strength whisky and it comes with a perfect craft presentation of no chillfiltration and at natural colour. While Springbank excels at pretty much everything they do, value and presentation wise, the 10 and 12CS is where they shine most from my experience. 25/25

    Total score
    92/100

  41. Juergen Willi scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Concentrated Malt.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Sherry, Hay, Orange, Apple, red Berries. Typical Campbeltown with it's musty note. Salty with some smoke in the background.
    • Taste
      90 90
      Sherry, Spices, Salt, Milk Chocolate, Caramel. With a drop of water and time it opens. Then you get Strawberries, Plums, Raisins.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Quite long finish. Fruits, Malt, Herbs and spices.

  42. Eilean a' Cheo scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Mineral, slightly peated, leather, fruit notes, peaches , mango chutney

  43. The_Independent scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Another delicious Cask Strength springbank, which, however, loses a bit compared to previous bottlings due to the sulfur.

    Update 10.7.2020: The last dram in the bottle has hardly any sulfur left. Today I would award 87 points.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Dense, sweet, heartily spicy, a “dirty” sulfur note reminds of a cowshed. Behind it sweet malt flavors, butter cake, sweet pastries - some have described it as marzipan. Unfortunately, the sulfur note gets a bit pushy over time.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Voluminous, sweet, spicy, the high alcohol content is very tingling. Woody wort, dusty, also slightly sulphurous (but not annoying here), sweet pastries. Delicious.
    • Finish
      84 84
      Medium length, creamy, spicy, sweet bittersweet chocolate, some acidity, tart nuts.

  44. PunxsutawneyPhil scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    Tasted this along side batch 15 (99298). This one is fruitier and less peaty. The finish makes the greatest difference. This bottling makes the 12CS standard easily where Batch 15 only barely touched it IMHO.
    Obviously, I like this better than Batch 15.
    I did a quick comparison with Batch 9 (my favorite so far) and I think that's still better in every aspect.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Hay and honey, salty caramel, ginger, earth and over ripe red fruit. Some yellow fruit and crushed seashells, too. Just as in Batch 15.
      This has less salt, and less crushed seashells though. And less peat.
    • Taste
      91 91
      Strong, oily. Salty caramel, hay, honey, yellow and ripe red fruit, ginger, earth tones fill the mouth. Then some peat clings to the mouth.
      Sweeter, fruitier and less peaty than Batch 15.
    • Finish
      92 92
      Long, only slightly bitter and slightly drying. The yellow and red fruit stick and die rather slowly and pleasantly. All covered in some subtly peat. Salty caramel swirls the mouth and the earth tones come slowly forward while bonding with the peat. Then those two die off slowly. Brilliant.

  45. Fight65 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    This is a typical Springbank. Old carpet in the nose, typical Springbank taste but a little dry finish. I like it!
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  46. Hvdree scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  47. LittlePeat scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      91 91

  48. Thermidor scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Early this year I used the last sample I had of the bottle for a home tasting with a friend. Out of all the whisky on the table that night, this was the one that surprised us. It's a bottle that both of us were familiar with, so it was hard to accept the first nosing round's repulsive impression of smoky, dirty, and rubbery notes all out of tune. It felt like the worst whisky on the table. It took us probably 30 minutes to get back to that glass since it was an early one in the lineup. Time made all the difference: now we had a still dirty, but well integrated and no longer rubbery whisky that was big but not cartoonishly so . We hadn't added any water yet, just let it air out, so you may want to let it sit for a while if you're trying it out and it doesn't work at first.

  49. Lakerfield scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    This is a dram someone can't possibly hate. It has combined all the basic elements without losing any intensity. Distillery character, peat, fruit, winy notes, confectionery sweetness and funk. Nothing is crazy overpowering nor balanced to death. That's quite an achievement. A little pricy for a 12 year old at cask strength (that's the market nowadays), but so worth it.
    • Nose
      First impression is a breeze of sea air with some funky and dry sherry notes. The peat is soft and on the earthy side of the spectrum, kept fresh by a mineral/limestony note. The funk is there too, with French cheese, sweaty socks, moldy fruit and exhaust fumes/soot. Not something I would prefer in my whisky beforehand but it works! Citrus, apple pie, cherry, dried apricot, raisin, and cranberry take up the fruity part which is nicely interwoven and never dominant. A bittersweet edge is made up of milk chocolate, stroopkoek (try it whenever visiting the Netherlands), cinnamon, marzipan, coconut milk, brown sugar, Seville orange marmalade, vanilla, pastry, roasted coffee beans and walnuts. Salt, spent match, rubber, smoked pork and bbq/soy sauce round things off. Lots of layers to discover here, very interesting. Once you pick up that cheesy note there's no way of unsmelling it, but it doesn't distract you from the other notes.
    • Taste
      A little thin but certainly mouth coating with much more sweetness this time. Sweet malt upfront, as if you're eating muesli in the morning infused with good bourbon. Vanilla ice cream with chocolate/PX sherry sauce springs to mind too. See what I did there with 'springs'.. :) The earthy peat is at a good level without getting too much in your face. The cheese note is gone but it keeps that exhaust/sooty thing which is actually complementary to the spirit. Grapefruit, orange peel, lemon zest, cherry, prune juice, cranberry and frozen strawberry deliver the basket of fruit. Milk chocolate, cream sherry, butterscotch, sultana, salted peanut, pepper, new oak, smoked bacon, balsamic vinegar and just a little sulphur. A little dry and spicy at times, but I blame it on the alcohol heat. A few drops of water doesn't hurt this one.
    • Finish
      Long, sweet and creamy malt with cinnamon.

  50. mer1973 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  51. Jackson05 scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    N: Slightly sulfured, tart raspberries, dirty ash, rubber, dry gravel, minerals.

    P: Creamy, sour and salty, good mouthfeel, ashy raspberry

    F: Still that sour salty combo. Chlorine, Red berries. A little ashy.

    Thoughts: Some good elements, but it’s not one I would buy again (this batch) due to the sulfur. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the regular old 10 year.

  52. Kaleva scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Nice Springbank, very fresh and vivid. Not really complex but good in what it has. Easy going, pleasant and reasonably priced - it has everything to be a perfect daily dram.
    • Nose
      Fresh, gentle smoke, citruses, butterscotch, apple, toffee
    • Taste
      Sweet, spicy, nutty, lemon pie, oak, muesli, lemon zest
    • Finish
      Medium-long, warm, sweet, nutty, malty

  53. Mark-E scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  54. McMoulis scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

  55. Jackson05 scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Springbank 12 cask strength 56.3%

    N: tinned pears, strawberry, ash, liquid honey, oak, cherry pop, black liquorice.

    P: Soft arrival, medium mouthfeel, ashy, strawberries and cream, herbaceous, cream soda

    F: Now the minerals kick in. Strawberry chewable vitamins, spicy oak, long, chewy, sweet, salty, cherry cough syrup.

    Thoughts. Very good, a springbank style sherry bomb. I like it, but also still prefer the plain jane old 10 year.. comes down to preference

    87/100

  56. ahroeen scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  57. ctu scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    This is a bit unique in the line, but it's okay.
    • Nose
      Peat, ash, salted caramel, waxy fruits, vanilla, marzipan, pepper and juniper.
    • Taste
      Powerful. Metals, cheese and marzipan as hs305 said. Honey, candied orange peel, cocoa and creamy peat.
    • Finish
      Long, dry, salty.

  58. Dris scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    A quite lively and light expression. Fresh sherry notes on the forefront accompanied by an intense sulfur-reek. Spent matches are a primary tasting note throughout. Spirit is on the sweeter, simpler side of the springbank spectrum.
    H2H with batch 5 & 15.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  59. Erik1908 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Hadn't opened a CS 12 bottle for some months. With the fall 2018 approaching, I thought it was time again. I can be short about this one.

    It's like coming home again. Springbank 12 CS never let me down; the boys in Cambeltown did it again. Keep up the good work!
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  60. kot1803 scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      83 83

  61. Deloti scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  62. Oldpultnie scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
      Sweet vanilla, marzipan, slightly alcoholic and meat.
    • Taste
      84 84
      Hot starter but there's not enough body to catch up with it and complete it. Too much salt and pepper. Not a lot of balance in here.
    • Finish
      82 82
      Slightly sweet medium finish drying out very ashy with salty lips.

  63. Dhugal MacArdry scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  64. ARDBERG scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    In early March I was wondering what would happen with 6 months of air - well, half my 10cl sample got 4 months with muh better results.

    Fred Flinstone is only present for a very short time, then gives way to smoke and overripe yellow fruits, i.e. quince, with a slight dry touch appearing then overwhelmed by smoked quinces. The fruit is really concentrated and mouth watering with a touch of iodine. The smoke subsides quickly, though.The dram leaves a pleasant warming finish on the tongue, where the lucious quince remains watering with some yellow plums ...

    Wow, a big change from 4 months ago, so a separate note for this encounter.
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  65. asmazda scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Is this batch a fluke?  The cynical side in me suspects Springbank is now reserving good casks to age longer or driving down the 12 CS quality to prevent it from cannibalizing sales of their expensive bottlings.
    • Nose
      The nose (neat) is closed, but after some time it opens up.  Cherries, marzipan, peat and ash, brie.  I concur there is cheese, and while not offensive it detracts from the potential of this nose.
    • Taste
      A tad dry, somewhat astringent, and quite sharp.  The sharpness was really surprising!  It basically tastes as it noses except more ash, so no real development here.
    • Finish
      Medium, drying, some pepper, some chocolate, and fairly salty.

  66. DenisLeonov scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Balance sheet (21) What can I say? Sad ... let's look at the next batch (86)
    • Nose
      Wine aroma with scanty notes (for the first time it met such at Springbunk12ks), dry, grass and fruit jam ... chocolate ... but the spirit rules the ball: (.... the hint of citrus appears with water. After 6 days of additional aeration: the tender notes almost disappeared ... citrus, dry barley, salt and marmalade ... smoke ... old varnish (22)
    • Taste
      Taste dry, spicy ... salt and citrus peel (21)
    • Finish
      Finish dry, woody and peppery, lemon and salt ... paper ... wax (22)

  67. Thermidor scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    It's good and appreciably unique, but no match for Batch 9 (88 pts.)
    • Nose
      Liquorice, oak, and rubber bands, with flint, faint smoke, and salt as well. I quite like the oak since it's not young or sharp. With water: Milk, taffy, and shoe soles. 
    • Taste
      Sharper than Batch 9 from 2014, and fruitier and peatier on the tongue. More on the sherry and less on the distillate than Batch 9, although 9 was 100% sherry casks. Maybe there's more first fill here, who knows? With water it gets leathery, but never loses that sharp edge. Feels a bit simple.
    • Finish
      Sweet and sherried rather than leathery and lemony. Drying, with some rubber bands and aspirin. The empty glass smells of lightly peated dried malts.

  68. GIORGOS scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  69. goliat314 scored this whisky 90 points Member Senior

    Classic meaty springbank, very aromatic nose and confectionary palate. Highly recomended!

    90/100

    A&A
    • Nose
      Sweet and sour nose. Rasins and pineapple, orange marmelade. Baked apples and pears, coconut, lavender, perfume. Light "cheesy" note, not unplesantly so. Roasted coffeebeans and freshly made tea. Creamy milk chocolate, and raw honey, along with potpuri. The nose is where this whisky is focused.
    • Taste
      Somewhat spicy, white pepper and nutmeg. Very creamy and full. Rich chewy cola and melted butterscotch. Cream and butter. Fruity pastries and wild strabwerries. An intense fresh and later roasted marzipan and marzipan pastries.
    • Finish
      Lingering sweetness, but still creamy. More nutmeg and wild strawberries along with grapes.

  70. KayMeertens scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Seems a bit less mature than the previous batch, but they're clearly in the same style. Both are not as sulphuric as some earlier batches.
    • Nose
      Mango, peat, caramel fudge and vanilla. Water adds apple.
    • Taste
      Ashy peat, papaya, mango, caramel and coconut.
    • Finish
      Peat, cocoa, mango and caramel.

  71. P.A.O.K.you_are scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  72. ARDBERG scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Slightly flinty nose, sweet, alcohol, sherried, smoky developing towards ashy, buttric.

    The big sweetness (marzipan) and Fred Flintstone are accompanying from start to finish. Not really balanced and no complexity.  Actually, quite dirty.

    Not my favourite Springbank profile and a dissapointment as I found the new 10 quite exceptional in price/quality relation and taste. But bourbon casked Springers tend to please to please me much more in these modern times.

    Maybe let the bottle air for about 6 months?
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      81 81

  73. Archer scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  74. hs305 scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    [February, 2018]  So far I really enjoyed most of the cask strength releases by Springbank and this new release is bottled at exactly the same abv of 56.3% as the 2016 one that I liked best so far.  This new release was the first batch of Springbank in the new year bottled on January 4th, 2018.  I bought this bottle for 54 Euro today.

    The colour is amber and the texture shows many small tears that slowly consolidate.  The nose offers a rather unusual profile of marzipan, cheesy and meaty aromas that do not really chime together.  To be frank, I do not like this.  The dram arrives a little hot in the mouth with almost no coating effect at all but a minor adstringent feeling (ashes).  The taste again shows this strange marzipan-cheese-meat combo that is not to my liking - but where do these flavours come from (I never had this in a Springbank CS before)?  The finish is of medium length and sweeter than the taste but with a drying end (tobacco ashes).  Water does not help either.

    While the 2016 CS edition was excellent (I scored it 90 points) this 2018 bottling is not to the liking of my taste buds.  As both bottlings have the same abv of 56.3% one should be cautious to check the small imprint from the bottling hall at the bottom of the bottle.  But maybe you like this 2018 profile better than I do...

    PS:  There is a minor sulphury note in this batch, too.
    • Nose
      81 81
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      81 81

  75. MadScientist scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      80 80
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      86 86

  76. bert61nl did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Notes from the distillery!
    • Nose
      A very sweet beginning of glazed cherries, coconut and marzipan combined with soft notes of treacle, cloves and honeycomb.
    • Taste
      A beautiful balance between vanilla and black pepper sitting alongside dark chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice with a delightfully delicate touch of smoke.
    • Finish
      The classic Springbank style emerges; dunnage warehouse notes and salty maritime flavours, accompanying cream crackers along with caramelised sugar.

  77. lincolnimp did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Prodigy, have you asked them, might be worth it, the question you raise is certainly a valid one?

    Perhaps they have had an advanced  sample?

    I see Glen Piwi added it to the database in December, perhaps it was brought out in mainland Europe first?

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