Springbank 15-year-old

Overall rating
87.85/100
votes
1912
Whiskybase ID
WB92837
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
2016
Stated Age
15 years old
Casktype
Sherry Casks
Strength
46.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Label
New Label Design (2017)
Bottle code
16/515
Added on
18 feb 2017 3:22 pm
UncoloredNon-chillfiltered
Springbank 15-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Springbank 15-year-old
Photo by Mishanja

Average value

€ 184.75

Found 2 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 179.50
France La vinoterie € 190.00
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1912 × member ratings

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Whisky reviews for Springbank 15-year-old

50 users have left 53 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.85 points.

  1. Ivynor scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
      Creamy peaty nose with a little sherry on dried fruits. Notes of dried herbs. A little metallic and medicinal.
    • Taste
      90 90
      Superb entry. Gourmet and peaty, slightly sweet, oily and iodized. A little hazelnut, coffee, some fruit (plums, Mirabelle plums). Excellent.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Finale on peat, chocolate, a little spice and medicinal plants, well balanced.

  2. Captain Teague did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    How many bottles have to rot in some investors cellar before prices will adjust?? as Springbank is not a closed distillery we will know the formula in the next 5 years... so long and again goodbye Springbank from most drinkers outside UK...

  3. Finn2206 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Great example of what you can do with sherry maturation!
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  4. Rien scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

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

  5. MLE scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

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

  6. Petitcham scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Just released glasses: springbank-specific peat, freshness, watermelon, cucumber and spices from behind

  7. Dustineon scored this whisky 88 points Newbie

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      85 85

  8. Salame scored this whisky 86 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      87 87

  9. Collegiate scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    A masterclass of brine and sherry casks delivering an old school whisky experience. Oddly enough i had a bottle of the 15yo about 6 years ago and was greatly disappointed by it and it may have been my least favourite SB thus far. This one is definitely different. Much more of a harmonious marriage of flavours this time. A beautiful muscular oily dram. Love it.

  10. Spoerkel scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    The distillery is happy to have such a bottling in its core range. Again a wonderfully complex and balanced Springbank sherry aroma. Respect!
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  11. DistiLesha scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Oooh yeah! This is Springbank!
    And the aroma of an empty glass in the morning cannot be confused with anything!
    Very cool orange and sweet citrus profile.
    N: 23 T: 24 F: 20 B: 22
    • Nose
      Oooh yeah! This is Springbank!
      Sulfur and astringent sulfur, raw gunpowder, some kind of oil, red berries, no pearl barley porridge and mash, prunes, fruit puree, papaya, passion fruit, where without hay and a delicate haze, oranges, cherry pits
    • Taste
      Lots of tasty sulfur and lots of oranges and other sweet citrus fruits, grape seed oil, lots of bitterness, prunes, red berries (strawberries, lingonberries, cherries), banana, sweetness 7 out of 10, delicate smokiness of Mainland, raw gunpowder, cherry pits, minerality, pineapples , hazelnuts
    • Finish
      Tannins, tannins

  12. JoshNRW scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
      Incredibly delicious nose. Not very complex, but rarely such a tasty nose with such key data. This typical Springbank harmony with an unusually dark tone, but still the distillery character there, wonderful, slightly maritime, slightly dirty, prunes, crumbly, overripe Elstar apples.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Strong, again not very complex and in the background again a maritime spring bench. But not as cool as the nose
    • Finish
      87 87
      Oily finish with strength

  13. dongolzo81 scored this whisky 74 points Expert Senior

    Unfortunately, I can't understand the hype. I don't particularly like this spring bench at all. One-dimensional, plus excessively woody-bitter on the tongue, which luckily settles down when you finish.
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      68 68
    • Finish
      73 73

  14. romantickizzel scored this whisky 60 points Member Junior

    Awful sulfur bomb batch and they really should not have bottled this. 2019 bottling riddled with sulphur and does not improve with time or oxidation in bottle
    My many bottles of tasting this is one of my worst to date
    Citrus and honey notes but totally overpowered yuk

  15. Apikalov scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

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

  16. lucero scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

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

  17. SRB scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
      Earth, leather, moss, cold campfire the next morning, dried meat
    • Taste
      88 88
      Solid sherry notes, yet balanced and not too dominant. Fine smoke, but stronger than the nose suggested. Dried fruits, whole grain bread
    • Finish
      88 88
      Sweetish, warm and slightly bitter notes at the end (but positive) and a little vanilla ... in the finish medium to long.

  18. SpringBarley scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

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

  19. Eilean a' Cheo scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  20. Tangtang_WhiskyYoda scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    pleasant to drink. Not particularly complex.
    • Nose
      smoky, slightly fruity, later light sherry notes and slightly nutty
    • Taste
      smoky, fruity, dried fruits, nutty, some caramel
    • Finish
      sweet with caramel, smoky, spicy, slightly fruity, sherry notes

  21. NXI scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    A nice malt with a unique character, which fully demonstrates the famous Springbank funk. The nose is undoubtedly the best and most intriguing part.

  22. yellowcake scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    In my opinion, this whisky is one of the better "standard whiskys" that you can easily buy and enjoy a quiet evening with. It is very good value for money.
    • Nose
      very light smoke, tingling, light aromas from the sherry barrel, vanilla, baked cake, quite sweet, but then rather dry notes
    • Taste
      Now the sweetness starts and the smoke fades into the background. It becomes more intense and is very pleasing and not very alcoholic - pleasant mouthfeel. I recognize tropical fruits like papaya and mango. Very beautiful!
    • Finish
      medium, vanilla and fruit sweetness mix, vanilla pudding and caramel

  23. Teomarg scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

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

  24. Dram Brigade scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Less dusty then the previous batch, but still the dirty SB of the core range. I felt that the new SB core ranges are a lot cleaner than the older batch. So it’s good that their 15 still carry some dirtiness. SB15 is always special for me as this may not be the most complex SB but always the one I enjoy from time to time.. due to my dirty palate?
    • Nose
      87 87
      Quite a lot of sour fruits, vanilla, fresh hot wood, smoke, chalk. A dirtier Springbank compare to the 10 and 12, how ever still not as dusty as the older batches.
    • Taste
      86 86
      A bit bolder, oiler, and sweeter compare to the 10, some sour fruits, fresh wood. Then comes the signature mineral chalky and herbal notes, a little bit of coal, little bit of dark chocolate. Follow with more freshly shaved woods, brine.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Medium long, briny lemony.

  25. neus007 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      81 81
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      80 80

  26. Moses scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Somehow I knew from the start how that would turn out. I didn't want to approach these Notes negatively from the outset. So I stay neutral and factual with this hype bottle. Still, a small "but" in advance: I'll keep it short. An expected "different" smoke note. My bottle code 19/456
    • Nose
      An overall maritime impression with a distinctly different smoke that is to be expected, along with fine spicy notes. However, it remains one-dimensional. But according to its name, I think a good nose. The recognition value is certainly very high. As the fans say: "... just a jumper".
    • Taste
      He is strong and intense in the beginning, which is what makes him. But in my opinion not balanced enough for the 15 years. There are better 15s out there. It provides a spicy sweetness and a peppery texture. Certainly a good malt.
    • Finish
      Already in the transition this dirty, earthy, spicy, salty note comes through, which I don't like at all in the form. Some might even call it a miss grade. It certainly has a unique selling point and is loved or avoided for it. In any case, those who like him are in the majority. I'm aware. I respect that. Thanks for the sample. But it doesn't make it onto my shelf. I have better ideas there.

  27. claymore84 scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    Tasted on 09-18-2020 in Carradale.

  28. Devilspunchbowl scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      87 87

  29. Nordberg scored this whisky 96 points Member Senior

    What a fun experience. A unique flavor profile and something that doesn’t draw an immediate comparison to the 10 year or 12 year. A nice mix of maritime, funky, and sherry. A truly great single malt.
    • Nose
      sherry notes, warm, orange syrup, potted soil, salted caramel, old matches
    • Taste
      orange soda/cough syrup, sherry, creamy, salty, that Springbank funk
    • Finish
      salty oranges soaked in wood.

  30. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/bottle-polishing-2020-spring-springs-with-springbank/

    Having just reviewed a recent [late 2019] batch [WLP], here are two bottle reviews of the official 15yo I bought in June & August 2019 respectively.
    This bottle was going down so quickly, I soon bought a second bottle a few weeks later. As seems prevalent these last few months, I’m down to the last few drams before taking a single note, but with the second bottle, I won’t be without!

    N: Gentle, slightly drying fruits and smoky wisps, Initially Ben Nevis & Port Ellen-esque with a slightly sulphury/pongy minerality, some mouldiness, sooty dried rolled oats, scorched earth, wet clay, ceramic vases,… but this whisky changes by the minute, and radically as the weeks pass. I also get that cracked oak vanilla note unique to early batches of Glen Scotia’s 15yo funnily enough – more coincidence than a regional quality or a conveniently shared cask order to the peninsular.
    T: Initially very quiet/shy, soft and gentle even a suggestion of subduedness. yet it’s never thin. This all changes over time, unusually perhaps, becoming more assured and present as the weeks pass. Stylistically then, we’ve an incredibly moreish fruity sherried and smokey malt but the sherried cask element took its time to show [to my palate]. What then emerges is a rather predominant note of bitter lemon kept in tin cans alongside a faint-yet-certain liquorice note, rosehip tea, soot, and oak smoke. Later, it’s decidedly waxy=briny, slightly plastic-y and sulphury in the best way possible.
    F: Delicious relaxed finish on smoky toasted fruit-steeped oak. Months later, that bitter lemon note digs its heels in, accompanied by more sootiness and a light smokiness. Against expectations, there’s very little farminess.

    C: A cracker of a whisky, just as I’d experienced in Campbeltown in May of the same year [WLP189].

    BOTTLE #2

    N: Compared to the previous bottle, this one is firmer & crisper from the off and also sweatier/saltier with a sweet & creamy > farmy < sulphury note – the sherry casks far more obvious up-front than with bottle #1 [initially].
    T: I find this bottle firmer and crisper on the palate too, and appearing more youthful than the previous. Strangely I’m missing the softness and slightly subdued nature of that first bottle. I might let this one sit out a few weeks to open up, and indeed a few weeks later – whereas the first bottle did the opposite – this one begins to soften. Water brings out the lightly smoked & oaked maltiness whilst red fruits appear without being blatantly attributed as indicators of sherry cask maturation. Slightly waxy > sooty > briny on the turn – all rather natural/candid as is the Springbank way.
    F: A little pepperiness with some bitter & sour lemon from the oak. Bitter & slightly salty sooty lemon coats the underlying barley in keeping with bottle number #1, yet with more minerality at the tail. Dry oaky smoke, a touch of toasted Shreddies, only a farmy hint and that slightly sulphury minerality holds out till the last. Under it all, barley sugar-Smarties casings remain true.

    C: Though some particular differences from bottle to bottle remain, the sibling resemblance between these two same-batch bottles was startlingly clear. It just took [me] some time for those qualities to converge comfortably.

  31. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/cadenheads-chiltern-street-christmas-2019/

    Considered one of the best batches the shop has received in a while. Indeed, I’ve found the 15yo been excellent all year.

    C: Very sherried, bordering too rubbery for my palate, yet still, with that desirably familiar heathery/barley dry, naturally savoury-sweet grassiness on the palate and a soft roughness overall which is certainly part of Springbank’s unique charm. Another super batch indeed.

  32. topos did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    really nice but I'd probably pick the 10yo on 7 days out of 10? or indeed the 12CS (batch depending). 6/10 (holding it to SB standards)
    • Nose
      a bit old school! stewed plums, wood chippings (funky damp ones), freshly cut green apple, all of it gently smoked.
    • Taste
      soft yet tangy arrival. funky wood chippings, a pleasant measure of gunpowder and struck matches (no sulphur bomb), dried oranges, fresh peaches, bitter herbs and peels (grapefruit), and a substantial dirty side with oily rags, with those green apples appearing in the finish.

  33. dhMaki scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
      Strong with light citrus flavors and sweet fruits. Behind it toffee, oak and some smoke.
    • Taste
      90 90
      As in the nose, strong with sweet fruit flavor. Longer on the tongue, the Springbank becomes drier and a peppery spiciness follows.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Long with sweet fruitiness and some smoke and oak.

  34. ezioaudit scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

  35. GWMingus scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

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

  36. IIIZIII scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      One of the smokiest springbank that I have ever tasted. Lots of smoky peat, with a little vanilla behind. The peat is harsh but slightly different compared to those typical one dimensional heavly peated expressions from so many contemporary distilleries.. A drop of lemon juice in the vanilla.
    • Taste
      Surprisingly easy on the palate. A little drying. Right after that it becomes luscious.

  37. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2019/06/12/campbeltown-malts-festival-2019-springbank-open-day/

    Springbank, we are told, bottle the 15yo four times a year. The only Springbank 15yo’s I’ve had previously were a fabulous old Green Thistle [89] and a private Fonseca cask [Blog88]. Hardly comparable.

    Back to the 15yo. 100% sherry cask maturation, the ppm figure [maybe] around 12-15. I reckon 60/40 refill/first-fill.

    N: Solid beginnings, more time needed as per usual. A soft sherried barley pong is all I noted.
    T: An unusual narrow/acute juicy arrival, strangely soft as if it’s been overly diluted or has spent 20 years in glass already. The story here however has not yet unravelled. If slightly thin/uneasy on the palate, it begins oozing through into the finish.
    F: And it goes on and on, oozing deliciously natural ppm’ed barley essence in an old skool way – as if it’s thought about breaking apart in the bottle already, but clearly hasn’t. How does it stay so dry without losing juiciness? I’m guessing that’s the sherry for you.
    C: Not sure I’ve ever tried anything so juicy and yet so ppm barley-dry. The most delicious ppm vibes too, really present without simply turning to peat smoke. Ideal whisky, and cheap as chips for under £60. With scoring ranging from 90 to 87, and feeling rather high-spirited, I’ll plump for 89 points.

  38. Beiredelarue scored this whisky 90 points Member Senior

    Not very complex, but well balanced. I like the combination with sweet & peat. I prefer this one over the 12CS.
    • Nose
      90 90
      at first rubbery, earthy then tropical fruit, wood
    • Taste
      91 91
      (very) fruity, vanilla, some 'peat'
    • Finish
      90 90
      medium long, sweet

  39. Cask1988 did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Compared to the sb 10yo it’s more mature, more complex and fuller bodied. What a whisky this is!! The 10yo is good stuff, 12yo cs is great stuff but this is a whole other dimension for me! Well worth buying a bottle.
    • Nose
      Wood driven nose. Earthy tones with mild spices and sweet tropical fruits. Slightly dry. Great stuff!
    • Taste
      Very delicate! Not so Woody as the nose may suggest. Dry sherry notes as well as some sweet, light Bourbon influences. Very well rounded and perfectly balanced. A quality dram this is!
    • Finish
      The finish is long and evolving. Sweet, bittersweet. Also a slight sour note in it after a while. Burnt wood, tropical fruits and again that earthy tone.

  40. LeChiffre scored this whisky 79 points Connoisseur

    Strong-intense single malt with well integrated smoke note. Overall, but unbalanced and in the price range, there are better alternatives for me. Springbank 10J and 12J CS are better, if not outstanding.
    • Nose
      79 79
      soft smoke; spicy sweetness; Touch of maritime notes
    • Taste
      79 79
      strong and intense; peppery pungency; very spicy; Oak; smoke
    • Finish
      78 78
      very sparkling and spicy; persistently smoky; behind the sweetness, oak flavors increasingly appear; slightly salty; dirty earthy

  41. Seb.Whisky scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A springbank totally in the nails, the influence of the casks goes wonderfully well with the heavy and smoked style of the house. I would say that this whisky has become a must. www.passionduwhisky.com
    • Nose
      Nose: The influence of the sherry cask is present, bringing ripe fruit, roundness. Everything is fat and promises a lot of fun. The smoke and soot style of Springbank is here a little camouflaged, participates in all, but more discreetly. Slowly, lemon and ginger appear. Orange pulling on marmalade.
    • Taste
      Palate: Quite the opposite of the nose, it nevertheless has more spices. This says the fruity that includes both sweet and tangy fruits persists. Sherry influences this mouth with chocolate, notes of toast and fig. The soot thickens crescendo. Some dried fruits, hazelnuts.
    • Finish
      Final: The heavy peat is fully installed and oily. There is this bitterness from citrus fruit, from their skin. Small acidulous reminders, lemon juice.

  42. Stef89 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  43. Falnor scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

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

  44. Dre73 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

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

  45. Dre73 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Fruity, orange, alcohol prominently present. Citrus, raisins, salty, some chocolate. Also some roasted meat.
    • Taste
      Spicy, pepper. Again fruity, orange, some citrus. Also slightly bitter, grapefruit-like.
    • Finish
      Now there is more smoke, spicy / peppery weather, quite long. also some orange.

  46. Woodsmoke scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Very tasty
    • Nose
      Something earthy. grass
    • Taste
      Oak. Fruit. Sweet with a bit of sharpness.
    • Finish
      Long with oak and sweet.

  47. HammerHead scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    Nose: roasted almonds, salted cashews, eastern serundeng like spices (coriander, ginger, cumin, curcumin), a fruitsyrup like sweetness with lime and oranges, also a tiny amount of sulphur/spent matches (it's more like smoked ham actually).

    Taste: nutty, again the broad palet of eastern spices, pepper, oranges, lemon, lime, some grapefruit bitters and a smokey meatiness.

    Finish: long - oranges, grapefruit, faint smoke, spices, pepper, ginger and a mild woody bitterness.

    A big whisky with big flavours and a true bang for your buck, also a clear improvement over the last time I had the 15 yo Springbank (which already scored 87 points a few years ago).
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  48. tavish mcwhisky scored this whisky 96 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      95 95
    • Taste
      94 94
    • Finish
      94 94

  49. Erik Elixir scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Blind tasting
    • Nose
      Orange, briny, citrus and lychees. More sulpher notes than the Springbank 10.
    • Taste
      Sulpher, pepper, syrup. Nice 'dirty' dram.
    • Finish
      Bitter citrus fruits, spices, pepper, Butterscotch, liquirice and some spirity notes.

  50. MadScientist scored this whisky 81 points Connoisseur

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

  51. Whisky-Tester did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

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

  52. kimmosuo scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

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

  53. bert61nl did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Nose: Rich and very fruity with lots of sherry tones to tempt you on the nose, Raisins chocolate and winter fruit cake mingle with the softest sweet smoke that grows in the glass. 

    Palate: Again the sherry cask has worked it's magic on this years vintage, Rich complexity arrives across the whole palate with Toffee apples rich fondant's with orange and sweet spices. Coco dusted soft sweets, warming gentle smoke and cherries.

    Finish: Long lingering elegance in a bottle. If you wanted a desert island dram then this is it. The rich fruits and coco last as a final embracing sweet peat smoke drives this dram on and on to a stunning finish.

    (notes from the distillery)

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