Springbank 18 review

[@christinecamley]

Jim I would be ecstatic to get my hands on a Springbank 18! This sounds outstanding! What a fabulous way of introducing us to this expression by remembering how we wait so long to get to that magical age of 18! It is a long time and to think about the process this scotch has gone through is amazing! I love deeply complex scotch and this beauty sounds exactly like that! Springbank really is spectacular and they make such delicious single malts!! Fabulous review!! Cheers! 🙂P.S. I just found a Springbank on the secondary market for over $500.00 Canadian and of course I won't pay that for this expression but I wanted to let you know what this will go for. Someone will buy it. Many Canadian specialty whisky shops online are sold out at that price.

[@moelassus]

OMG. You nail the 3-in-1 oil note. I've been unable to put a name to that. Perfect.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Mike. I struggled with that one for a while too but when it dawned on me that that was what it reminded me of...it was like a light had just been switched on 😄😄

[@jockmcallister]

I don’t think I have a single bottle of an 18yo malt. However I was offered a bottle of the recent batch and have it ready to open…. Great review as ever Jim 🎉

[@richardagnew4959]

I roared with laughter at the intro. Viet Nam flashbacks! Brilliant. You had me at Jaffa cakes. Even now I'd drive down to the Scottish-Irish shop in Ottawa, buy a packet and they'd be gone by the time I got back up the road home. Sounds like a cracker indeed. Maybe one day. :)

[@WhiskeyNovice]

😄😄 cheers Rich. As I said to Tony...I'm not actually a huge fan of Jaffa Cakes (due to a childhood incident 🤢) but, I could still eat them and still know that smell well 😉

[@bennyfriis601]

Spot on, Jim! The SB18 (2023 bottling) I "just won in the lottery" is 65% Sherry, 20 Bourbon, 15% Rum. I dunno... maybe I can only be disappointed because of the expectations? 🤷‍♂️ But make no mistake - I look forward to uncorking that bootle as I've ever looked forward to anything before.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Hilarious intro for this series! Wow straight to the deep end of the pool with this one. Never had Springbank 18 but loved the 2019 Longrow 18. Bought one back when they were still $115 on UK sites. Not like that anymore! Looking forward to the other 18's you have. Cheers Jim.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Tim. It's nice to have intros back, even if just for this series. Yeah, I've been wanting to review this for a while and agreed...that Longrow is also a belter.

[@greigmartin4339]

18 year is the high end of my budget and always keen to watch reviews so looking forward to seeing more of these. I have the 2018 100% bourbon matured version it’s a good whisky but I always tend to hold the more expensive ones with more scrutiny and for three figures paid I’m expecting fireworks every time. It doesn’t really deliver that so wasn’t really fussing about replacing it but your review has encouraged me to give it another go (if I come across it).

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Greig. I'd say 18yr old tops a lot of budgets. It's hard to justify the prices beyond that sometimes although...there are a few well priced 21s on the market. I'm not surprised you were uninspired by the fully ex-bourbon matured. I've struggled a bit with their most recent 12 CS which is full ex-bourbon maturation. Some days I like it, others I don't. I do most certainly feel, that Springbank spirit tastes best with at least SOME portion of ex-sherry maturation. Pity it's such a short window of opportunity to pick these gems up when they do come onto the market.

[@jackthepickledhound]

18 is a nice age statement. Makes me feel good about myself in every respect. I could do official 18 year olds exclusively if not for the quantity of experimentation at lower ages and lower prices and higher ABV. The journey just keeps rolling along.

[@hellswidd4628]

Great to see the comedy intro making a return and another top review ... dare we say we’ve only ever had a sample of this one? Very nice it was too ... always try to grab a bottle when available but have failed miserably so far 😂! The Victoriana is a great dram and always try to have bottle to hand! Funky stuff!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Hellen. Yeah, as I said to someone else...we're having to look elsewhere for alternatives to Springbank now. Good to know there ARE great alternatives out there.

[@FerNightwalker]

If Springbank is hard to get there, here you can't even imagine, haha.... I'm glad you recommended the G.S. Victoriana as an alternative, I feel lucky that it's available here, and also one of my favorite expressions. Have you tried the G.S. 18 y.o, I heard and read excellent comments about it, I hope to go for one shortly. Excellent as always Jim, Cheers 🥃

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers buddy. Yeah there's certainly some luck involved in getting one's hands on any Springbank. I haven't tried the GS 18 yet. It's on the radar though 😉

[@AlReyn]

Great review! I have a bottle of SB18 yet to open but it will be opened soon . I bought a bottle of GS Victoriana over the weekend so I'll settle with that for now!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Good stuff. Cheers Al.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Great walk through. Always fun to share a dram, especially such an excellent pour!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Jon. This is indeed excellent (imo).

[@RomainRiviere]

So glad i watched this. I know our palates are unique but i have to say i was a bit let down by Rob's take on this one since i had personally loved it just how much as you did. My first bottle got empty so fast, i'm glad i have 2 left in my cabinet!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

You're a lucky man. This is the only bottle I have and most likely ever will have so...it will last quite some time I imagine. Cheers.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Lol. Nice intro. Very creative. Nice review. Had a look online. I can get a sample of the 18 for €16.50 for 50ml. Holy hell. That is a lot of money for motor oil.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

😄😄😄 cheers Gert. Well...oil ain't getting any cheaper.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

@@WhiskeyNovice 😂😂😂😂

[@stevewilson9400]

Hilarious. I’m in New Zealand (from Lisburn originally…). Haven’t been able to get my hands on Springbank here and then today I got an email from my local online seller saying the 18 is available, one bottle per customer. I hesitated, it’s bloody expensive! Then your review pops up. If that isn’t the universe giving me a nudge, then I don’t know what is. Bought it, now I wait for NZ Post to lose it, find it, leave it in a hedge near my house 🥃

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Damn Steve...I hope you enjoy it now or I'm gonna feel guilty as hell 😬😄. Cheers buddy. Let me know your thoughts once you've tried it. Best wishes.

[@stevewilson9400]

It’s arrived! Here we go…

[@farcue3325]

@@stevewilson9400 who are you using online in nz mate

[@carlossandiego7925]

Can I say I actually enjoyed my envy watching you savor this Springbank? 😂 I’ve seen it here in California but marked up beyond my comfort zone. I do appreciate the alternative suggestion.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Carlos. Much appreciated buddy.

[@northcoastdrammer8348]

Great review as always Jim loving the sound of the Jaffa cake note :) 🥃

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Tony. I'm not a fan of Jaffa Cakes but they work here 😄😄

[@northcoastdrammer8348]

@@WhiskeyNovice Sorry mate but I'm going to have to unfriend you after finding that out lol :)

[@WhiskeyNovice]

🤣🤣🤣 I had an experience once when, as a child staying in a caravan in Portrush with my older sister, where she served me cold custard and Jaffa Cakes for breakfast one morning. I ate it and then was sick for the rest of the day. Kinda stuck with me. Could eat them now but...the memory remains 😄

[@peterlee2279]

Great review and true to your words the springbank 18 is harder to come just because it’s so damn great.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Indeed Peter. Cheers.

[@TheWhiskeyNerd]

It's funny that over the course of 18 years, the spirit might have been distilled by one distiller, matured by another, and bottled by a third! I'd love to get into the heads of a distiller laying down a cask that they know they won't taste, or one who's reaching back into history to bottle one from years and years before their time.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Indeed. It would fry your mind if you stop to think about it. Cheers guys.

[@simonridge6607]

Great review, great whisky, great balls of fire ! Liked and shared. I hope I win 🤞🏻

[@WhiskeyNovice]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 good luck 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Cheers Simon.

[@billmonteith1161]

Great stuff Jim. Springbank, to me, is like that very alluring, seductive woman whom you hope will bless you with even just one look. Love Springbank and what they stand for but I have had to move on. That being said, I always keep an eye out for the 15 and the 18 when I am in the shop. All we can do is hope.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Oh, careful Bill...you were almost starting down the path of Jim Murray there 🤣🤣. Agree totally buddy. And, I think a good place to move to is Loch Lomond or Glen Scotia. Both available, both affordable and both bringing great quality. Let's face it...if Springbank were easily accessible and readily available...we'd probably go seeking unicorns elsewhere anyway. Cheers mate.

[@peathead4450]

Thanks for shining a light on this dram... or better not. Giving it more attention just means it will be less and less available. And a stunning dram it is. So I was less interest in your review (great as usual; not much to add) rather than in the 'if you liked this... than try this!' section, if it only was because it's so hard to find. Just as you explained, and yes, the alternative is definately different, but a great dram as well. Slàinte mhath

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Frank. As I said...a very hard whisky to fault and...a very hard whisky to suggest an alternative. I was originally thinking along the lines of a Kilkerran release but, as we all know, that's almost as hard to get hold of so.... Slàinte my friend.

[@peathead4450]

@@WhiskeyNovice same thinking here.

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Jim, I would buy this for £100 but like all springbanks when one can actually find a bottle they are mainly waaaay overpriced. Still,I’ve got the 15 and 10 in my stash which I did buy(quite a while ago now)for decent prices. Enjoyed watching this video 👍, enjoy your 18 Jim, slàinte

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers David. Always a bright future when you've got Springbank stashed. Slàinte buddy.

[@justwhisky]

Great review!

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I love the Victoriana, but my suggestion might be Loch Lomand 18 as a budget alternative; ABV, PPM, and Casking are very similar to the Springbank 18. P.S. Feeling better. I should be back in action in a couple of months 🤞

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Cheers Chris.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@WhiskeyNovice Thank you! Cheers! 🥃🥃

[@jackthepickledhound]

The great temptation! I am all about the lightly peated bourbon and sherry. Is it wrong to want a whisky to have it all? I would drink 18 year old 46% malt all day long if I didn't have dozens of other bottles to get through. I think I found one of these and it's almost twice the price of most other 18s. Making me crazy.

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Secondary pricing or even the price some outlets put on whiskies is just not justifiable in my opinion Matt. There are whiskys I've had and whiskys I'd like to have that, I simply have to tell myself "no! There's no way I'm paying that for them!" I'd have to say again, that this is a great whisky but...I wouldn't pay a whole lot more than the RRP. Simply as a matter of principle as much as anything else. If the distillery owners decide the whisky is worth "x" amount but the vendor then decides to ask twice that or more...said vendor can keep it. Cheers buddy.

[@jackthepickledhound]

@@WhiskeyNovice I deal with retailers selling bourbons at full rip-off secondary prices. I got lucky and paid $55 for my Stagg Jr. I routinely see it for $250. MSRP is about $80. Scotch is just expensive but it's never more than 15% overpriced. Unfortunately, I like my malt. And I like my 18 years. I can't get alcohol delivered in New York. And I am to cheap to buy anything overpriced from the interwebs. Buying the SB18 is like taking the family out for a nice meal and having a drink or three. The Ancnoc 18 is like just the wife and one drink. The Tomatin 18 is Tandori takeout twice.

[@RomainRiviere]

@@jackthepickledhound 🤣🤣 Dalmore 18 is taking the family to Hooters for a burger

[@maltymission]

In terms of quality and what you get from a bottle, I actually think Springbank (or Longrow) is one of very few 18 yo whiskies out there worthy of a price tag hovering around that £100 mark. You just don't want to look for one on whiskybase, as prices WILL make you cry and sob... good shout out on the IYLT,TTT: different, but also very good and luckily atm still available

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Once again Menno...I believe you have hit the nail firmly on the head. This does, imo, qualify for it's price tag. Cheers buddy.

[@Andre-nt4dn]

Springbank is very good for sure, but I find it somewhat overrated. I don't see the high prices reflected in the quality, when I compare it to others. Just my opinion. 😁

[@WhiskeyNovice]

Fair enough André. No one can argue with you there. I think I'll always have a huge soft spot for them based on the (always brilliant for me) 10yr old. I tend to judge all other Springbanks against it. Cheers buddy.