Whiskybase

Vital Spark 12-year-old MBl

Overall rating
86.03/100
votes
151
Whiskybase ID
WB130273
Category
Single Malt
Bottler
Meadowside Blending (MBl)
Stated Age
12 years old
Casktype
Oloroso Sherry Finish
Casknumber
Batch 0002
Number of bottles
1280
Strength
50.2 % Vol.
Size
500 ml
Added on
25 apr 2019 12:27 pm by CortheFarmer
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask Strength
Vital Spark 12-year-old MBl
Photo by Fat Bastard!
Vital Spark 12-year-old MBl
Photo by Fat Bastard!

Average value

€ 55.48

Found 4 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 52.95
at Hirschenbrunner Spirits € 58.00
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17 × in wishlist

151 × member ratings

255 × in collection

Whisky Reviews for Vital Spark 12-year-old MBl

33 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 86.03 points

  1. Archer scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    It's fun, looks older than 12 years. There were very clean Oloroso barrels in use.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Red fruity and heavy. Grapes, blackberries, raisins, dried figs. Caramel. Flattering nose, fun to smell. Mild smoke. Loamy soil, wet leaves, freshly cut mushrooms. Earthy, spicy.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Soft, creamy, viscous. Fudge, forest honey, caramel, mild spice. Gets slightly dry over time. Cinnamon and coriander, mild pepper, cardamom. Grape must.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Medium length, dry. Still with a lot of caramel and soft fudge. Spicy, decreasing fruit notes.

  2. Cask1988 did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Got this as a sample from the Old Pipe shop as part of an IB mixed sample set. Glad this was in, I was curious for this one for quite a while now. So here it goes!
    • Nose
      Oh this is a very pleasant nose! Sherry driven, but balanced, soft and creamy. Warm red fruit, raisins, nice freshness of eucalyptus and various spices such as ginger and Arabic orientated spices. Alcohol very well integrated. This is my cup of tea definitely! Good job MBI !! No water for this one, just hand warmth.
    • Taste
      Wow. This is full bodied. It explodes in your mouth. There is a slight sharp spiced edge but the creaminess is bursting through also. Again warm red fruit and raisins, plumbs and strawberry.
    • Finish
      Ah there it is! A very refined and smooth layer of peat smoke. It appears to be very coastal and salty. This is very well integrated. Also some dry nuttiness like peanuts. Nice! Unfortunately the finish is rather short, I would be pleased to keep it’s taste for a little longer!

      This one goes straight to the top of my ‘affordable whiskies’ wishlist.

  3. MadScientist scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

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

  4. peej84 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

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

  5. RobbievdB scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Undisclosed Loch Lomond and for sure recognizable, although after some time, water and particularly in the finish. The nose and first of taste are quite barrel dominant with loads of red fruits, caramel and fudge sweetness. Obviously there’s an nice layer of maritim like peatiness. The finish let’s room for those Lomond fruits and candy like sweetness to shine. Nice one and buy recommendation.

  6. Edward MacKenzie scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    A single malt from the Loch Lomond distillery.
    Great color, nice sherry tones in the nose and mouth. Very complex and balanced. I would never have given blindly 12 years, rather more. A lot of whisky for the money!

  7. didi1893 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Tastes and likes. Certainly not a high-flyer, but tasty and tasty!

    22/22/22/22 (88P)
    • Nose
      In the Premium Snifter, intense caramel shines with a silky red shimmer. The first nose shows timidly sulphurated raisins and hints of wet leather, caramelized sugar and dark peaches. There is minimal fruity smoke and loamy earth tones, the nose is gentle and mild despite 50% alcohol. Caramel, oranges, peaches, raisins, grapes and morello cherries, the nose knows how to please.
    • Taste
      Wet leather and tart wooden elements start the first sip, dark grapes and berries rest on the tongue, subtle sharpness tickles the inside of the cheeks. Earthy notes of peat and smoke come into their own, dark spices end in tart wood tones and leather, in the background lie raisins and fresh mint. The freshness increases, menthol sticks to the palate while hazelnuts come into their own.
    • Finish
      Tart, voluminous, warming, dark and dried fruits, leather, caramel and tart wood. The spicy aromas will be remembered for a long time, only after a feeling of eternity will the aftertaste fade away with an intense note of whale and hazelnut.

  8. schengel10 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Even if neither region nor distillery are known - they have succeeded in a very good, intensive and complex 12 year old!
    [Color] mahogany;
    Price still acceptable!
    • Nose
      Blackberries, dates, figs, sherry, medicinal mild smoke, herbs, spices, oak;
    • Taste
      undiluted: despite 50% rather soft, creamy, powerful, lots of sherry, honey, spices (pepper), oak;
    • Finish
      medium length, strong and spicy; aftertaste oak and smoke;

  9. ctu scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Slightly thin and one sided stuff, but not bad!
    • Nose
      Sherry, smoke, bacon chips, salted caramel, green apple peel and camphor.
    • Taste
      Sherry, butter, spicy oak and peat.
    • Finish
      Medium length, spicy, creamy.

  10. lviz scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Nice smell, maybe Laphroaigish..very smoky, peaty with a big sherry on it. The taste is not that brutal, a kind of ..ardmorish taste with a lot of creamy sherry. Nice, but a bit lighter on the plate. The nose promised a littlebit more. If you like a lighter peated whisky with big sherry, it's a nice choice.

  11. lucero scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

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

  12. Cubey666 scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Tasted at WTF 2019

    tasty dram this is! soft sherry fruits with a spicy earthy body
    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  13. dapoinbua scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

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

  14. rdk88 scored this whisky 81 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      80 80
    • Finish
      80 80

  15. rpvdwel scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

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

  16. Ficelli scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

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

  17. Erik1908 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    In spite of the 500ml bottle, this still has an excellent P/Q ratio. To me the Loch Lomond signature was not clearly there. Sherry influences yes, but no sherry bomb. Oily structure. Red fruit and mild spices. Medium length finish.

  18. ThinLizzy scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

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

  19. Sebdu37 scored this whisky 84 points Member Senior

  20. Wolf68 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

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

  21. Fight65 scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

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

  22. Najzero scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    Quaffable, but far from a good whisky.
    If I had to add a bottle to reach free shipping, this would be one of my "toppers".

    Its okay, but boring in every regard (nose, mouth, finish)

  23. Florius scored this whisky 79 points Member Senior

  24. Vis2020 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      84 84
      Light peat, pepper, nutmeg and dark fruit in the background. He also has something metallic. Quite closed at first. Later he opens up a bit more
    • Taste
      85 85
      Sweet cherries, pepper, nutmeg and something metallic again. On the end a little sweet like gummy bears.
    • Finish
      84 84
      Dark pickled fruit with a little pepper at the end and slightly bitter.

  25. JoshNRW scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
      Much sweeter than the 5, very lush, a bit clumsy, but very different from the 5. The alcohol, however, super integrated, hardly noticeable, plum, in the middle part a bit fruity, partly sour
    • Taste
      86 86
      Surprisingly mild, sweet, even slightly minimally smoky, but not entirely mine
    • Finish
      86 86

  26. Rien scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

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

  27. JacobaEd scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

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

  28. Hvdree scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

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

  29. JackieMoon scored this whisky 87 points Newbie

    Really interesting part. From the nose and the taste, I might even have blindly suggested a red wine finish.

    Has a very distinctive grape note, maybe a red grape jelly, some cherry? Clean and somehow clear in the fruitiness, almost soft in the mouth, there is nothing dirty in it. Next to it is a distinctive smoke, Christmas spices in the direction of gingerbread. Nice spice without being overlapping. Quite a longer finish.

    I make up my mind that he has his right to exist. Better than a standard Herryislay in barrel strength and definitely with a recognition value. Find him fairly priced for what he offers.

  30. JackieMoon scored this whisky 87 points Newbie

    Really interesting part. From the nose and the taste, I might even have blindly suggested a red wine finish.

    Has a very distinctive grape note, maybe a red grape jelly, some cherry? Clean and somehow clear in the fruitiness, almost soft in the mouth, there is nothing dirty in it. Next to it is a distinctive smoke, Christmas spices in the direction of gingerbread. Nice spice without being overlapping.

    I make up my mind that he has his right to exist. Better than a standard Herryislay in barrel strength and definitely with a recognition value. Find him fairly priced for what he offers.

  31. mer1973 scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      83 83

  32. Dris scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

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

  33. gaboruso scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

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

Tastingtags

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