Again a great review. Of course you make us all jealous once again. Our mouths are watering by the descriptions you give. Keep them coming. Cheers guys!
One of my favorites. Just won a bottle in a lottery. Look forward to trying this year's edition. Thanks for the review. As well a friend just picked up Springbank 30 yr old. Waiting for a special occasion to open.
Sounds amazing! I can't wait to dive in and explore this Springbank 12!! Terrific thoughts Dustin and Mike!! I am recovering from what I think is food poisoning from a lentil soup last night so I will have to wait to track this beauty down (hope I can!!) when I am fully recovered!! You guys rock!! 🙂
I got lucky and scored a bottle from my local liquor store. I was worried because my last 2 bottles of SB (10 and 15) were both meh. One sip of this and I was like Woh yeah! SB is back baby! Glad you had the same experience.
Yep, big sherry. Lots of sherry. And very good sherry. Only quibbles would be that it’s very closed, first couple drams, even though I let it sit for an hour in the glass both times. Also, the sherry, delicious as it is, covers the funk up a little more than I’d like. But damn it’s delicious.
I feel that way on most Springbank's, especially high abv and cask strength offerings. But really good sherry as you said. The funk was low, very "cleaned up" 12 year.
Have mine on the way. Have you two seen the Cadenhead Enigma 15 year old Islay? Picked one up and hope it is a lagavulin. This one is a bourbon barrel which should contrast well with the previous enigma 16 year old Islay
@@troublesome89 if I had a bar pour and was plush with funds...I might do 300. It's really that good. I've had worse 400 dollar bottles to be fair. I just hate paying that much over retail. If it were just on quality it might be north of that 300 number, but not a lot. I blinded the last 2 US batches with this one, and oddly...I picked it last on first pass through. By the 3rd pass through I'd moved it to first and was starting to think it was lapping them. It's an exceptional pour for a springbank fan. As others have noted, you do need to enjoy a sweeter profile and less earthy and oak forward one. I do! Though I'm not against the oak or earthy notes.
Great review guyz😁 been on the lookout as soon as these started showing up in stores in Europe. Got 4 bottles straight away😅😅 just had a good feeling about it seeing the color on it with only 30% sherry. Best decision ever😅
This year’s 12 and 18 are unbelievable. The 18 is absolutely stunning too. If you haven’t tried this year’s 18 it’s a must, fruits galore. My favorite in years. I have this year’s 21 as well but I think I actually prefer the 12 and 18 more for different reasons.
@@topshelfwhisky I wasn't a big fan of this year's 18. I wish you could get it for a quick review, just to check if you too think it is a fruit galore. Personally, that's what I found lacking, no fruitiness except a strong lemon note. It was a fine malty, elegant Springbank but too bitter for me.
Does anyone know who is Springbank's master blender/distiller? This person should be in the Scotch hall of fame or something. The expressions they are pumping out are just becoming greater and greater. Kudos for keeping this distillery independent, they deserve all the hype. Slainte!
I am still on Batch 1 100 % oloroso sherry 12y 54.6 % long LONG ago . . . (got a few cases back then) only 4 botts left . . . my locals no longer carry SB since 2015 ! !
Buy both, you won't regret. But they ate completely different whiskies. The B18 was underwhelming with the neck pour, but 9 months later it has really opened up into a wonderfully complex whiskey, a real standout bottle.
Thanks for the review guys. I’m in a ballot right now. Trying to get one of these. I missed out on the last two ballots didn’t score any but I did get another laphroaig cardieas 10
@@kirbycalgary2844 I'm luck to live 30 minutes from one of the 5 largest liquor stores in America. That said so many of our reviews are from Mike going crazy and buying epic bottles off auctions and secondary places. We do well but also we only review what we found not what we didn't. Or we got samples!
Hi Mike and Dustin Happy to see you enjoy your springbank 12year old cask strength, I just bought 4 bottles of the the 12cs and 2 bottles of the 15year old,I walked out the door for $400.00 US dollars for 4 bottles, springbank is getting easier to get where I live, for some reason, before last year it was almost impossible to find, and they were still on 2 cases of the 12year old and the 15year old, I'm not sure if springbank is doing something different or not, because it has always been difficult to find anywhere around me, I have had a hard time just to find the 10year old about every year or 2,and I always try and buy what they have in stock, and as you know springbank is very reasonably priced where I live. They're not putting there juice in boxes anymore and there the only whisky's that's now 700 ml.I hope it don't get the to where all distilleries do the same thing, because there cheating us out of whiskey, I don't mind if springbank does it because it is rare to find, but not as a whole if you know what I mean !! Thanks for the great review on springbank, I was sipping on the same thing but 2022 release 12year old cs !!!!😊❤
Really want one after watching your review. Last got the 22 (100% bourbon) and really hope I can score one of these. Tough to source in FL though I have some kids scattered about I can use as mules.
Florida is a wasteland for whisky. My best friend lives in Port Charlette and I visit twice a year. I've been to ever liquor store from Ft. Myers to Venice. Never found a deal.
@@topshelfwhisky Agree better scotch is hard to come by in FL and prices tend to be much higher than NE. But got Batch 23 in Tampa for $130 from an online order made from Bardstown KY while on a bourbon trip, so I was happy. Last year, my son had an online order go through in Nashville for Batch 24, but they called back and said was already out of stock.
@vinole6532 I was in the same boat as you with the 12. Got that 100% ex-bourbon (and love it) but nary a sniff up here in Connecticut the last few years until two weeks ago. Cheers!
@@vinole6532 My friend did find a Laphroaig 25 (2014) for me in Tampa, a few years back. That was the only one... They had a HP30 cask strength for 1600
They're getting a LOT more available now that the scotch auction prices are dropping. Found these are party source, but for some reason it was only online.
I mean...the sherry bomb statement here is a bit much. The Cairdeas is a legit bomb. After that just two night and day distillates. I'll take the springbank but I'm bias. The Cairdeas is a bit cheaper and way more available...so if we're giving bonus points for that. Frog wins
I had a friend get a couple at 130 even. Obviously the 299 bottles will just sit for ages as trophies these days so everyone will see those and think it's more normal. The stores at retail sell out in a week or two.
@@topshelfdustin3060 for 130 I would get 5 of these!!! I hate my market in Brazil… it popped up here (not very common and only a few select unofficial sellers), for the equivalents of $380. Ouch. Samples it is. 🤣
Well, 90% we don't get local. Springbank...well generally the party source is where things start. But Mike's right...I've gone 100 miles + looking around. And I can't share the hidden gems ;)
Just the local shops man. They're way more over seas these days as they're much more scares in the UK. I had a buddy down around New Orleans get 2 for 130 a piece. Just don't live in cali or the north east and prices shouldn't be too bad.
You know...my biggest regret when I got into springbank was I had no idea about their batch variation. So I'd buy bottles, drink them, never thought about backups or vintages. So I never took notes until really mike and I started doing the channel. Mike wasn't the first but he really turned me on to the concept of years and vintages in general. Now i knew springbank mixed things up, but I always assumed it was to get back to a profile, not to give us new things each time. So I'm not really able to remember back. The old black box 12's had some absolute bangers. Of the modern stuff this is up there. The 57.1 which had this awesome vanilla note is up there. The last release before this that we did was great.
Retail? Nobody anymore sadly. But I'll see them for 2x the US price in the UK and about 50-75 over will show up in the US if you're refreshing your favorites daily.
I now understand why you didn't really like batch 23. This batch 25 is far too sweet for me. Not too far from the last HB 15 oloroso you're right. And I didn't like it as much as the previous 15, much drier and sour. If batch 23 was a solid 89, this one would be 87 only because it is not my favorite profile.
I thought we were pretty high on the last one...which used more but darker sherry. Had a lot more oak influence while this is more vibrant fruits...and yes. Sweet.
Wow - Iove the enthusiasm - and so glad I was able to get one -l look forward to opening it!
enjoy!
Again a great review. Of course you make us all jealous once again. Our mouths are watering by the descriptions you give. Keep them coming. Cheers guys!
This was really mouthwatering. Like the first time I tried HP25... hope you can try one.
Was able to find a second bottle of this - just arrived today - would not have bothered to search for it were it not for this review! Thanks guys!!!
enjoy!
One of my favorites. Just won a bottle in a lottery. Look forward to trying this year's edition. Thanks for the review. As well a friend just picked up Springbank 30 yr old. Waiting for a special occasion to open.
Hope you enjoy it! Especially the 30
Heard great things about this one, great review
You guys need to get this one. Like to hear you’re thought.
Sounds amazing! I can't wait to dive in and explore this Springbank 12!! Terrific thoughts Dustin and Mike!! I am recovering from what I think is food poisoning from a lentil soup last night so I will have to wait to track this beauty down (hope I can!!) when I am fully recovered!! You guys rock!! 🙂
That's the worst. I once ate cool whip that was expired by 6 months... it was awful.
@@topshelfwhisky Oh no! Mike that's awful. I agree - food poisoning is the worst. Ugh. Thanks for the awesome reply. Hope mom and baby are well!!
Just got lucky and found a bottle on a shelf. I cannot wait to try it! Great review fellas!
Nice!
as always, let us know how it is!
I got lucky and scored a bottle from my local liquor store. I was worried because my last 2 bottles of SB (10 and 15) were both meh. One sip of this and I was like Woh yeah! SB is back baby! Glad you had the same experience.
No disappointments with this one. Glad you were able to score a bottle!
Yep, big sherry. Lots of sherry. And very good sherry. Only quibbles would be that it’s very closed, first couple drams, even though I let it sit for an hour in the glass both times. Also, the sherry, delicious as it is, covers the funk up a little more than I’d like. But damn it’s delicious.
I feel that way on most Springbank's, especially high abv and cask strength offerings. But really good sherry as you said. The funk was low, very "cleaned up" 12 year.
Have mine on the way. Have you two seen the Cadenhead Enigma 15 year old Islay? Picked one up and hope it is a lagavulin. This one is a bourbon barrel which should contrast well with the previous enigma 16 year old Islay
That Enigma 16 was a great bottle. I'm assuming you have one? We haven't tried the 15 year.
I saw that posted somewhere...certainly have an eye out.
I'm on my second bottle. Absolutely amazing!
If I'd gotten a 3rd I would be too :)
@topshelfdustin3060 What's the max you would pay for this batch? Just curious.
@@troublesome89 if I had a bar pour and was plush with funds...I might do 300. It's really that good. I've had worse 400 dollar bottles to be fair. I just hate paying that much over retail. If it were just on quality it might be north of that 300 number, but not a lot.
I blinded the last 2 US batches with this one, and oddly...I picked it last on first pass through. By the 3rd pass through I'd moved it to first and was starting to think it was lapping them. It's an exceptional pour for a springbank fan.
As others have noted, you do need to enjoy a sweeter profile and less earthy and oak forward one. I do! Though I'm not against the oak or earthy notes.
Thanks for the explanation! Then, I feel good about the price I've been buying them for. I agree, I like this one over 2023 batch.
Great review guyz😁 been on the lookout as soon as these started showing up in stores in Europe. Got 4 bottles straight away😅😅 just had a good feeling about it seeing the color on it with only 30% sherry. Best decision ever😅
I need to change the way I think about 30% ;)
This year’s 12 and 18 are unbelievable. The 18 is absolutely stunning too. If you haven’t tried this year’s 18 it’s a must, fruits galore. My favorite in years. I have this year’s 21 as well but I think I actually prefer the 12 and 18 more for different reasons.
We need the 18
@@topshelfwhisky I wasn't a big fan of this year's 18. I wish you could get it for a quick review, just to check if you too think it is a fruit galore. Personally, that's what I found lacking, no fruitiness except a strong lemon note. It was a fine malty, elegant Springbank but too bitter for me.
Does anyone know who is Springbank's master blender/distiller? This person should be in the Scotch hall of fame or something. The expressions they are pumping out are just becoming greater and greater. Kudos for keeping this distillery independent, they deserve all the hype. Slainte!
I'll have to ask...I don't know and a quick google didn't bring anything up.
It's the devil, I'm convinced.
Demon to sum, angel to others
lol
Findlay Ross..the maestro.
Yup! He is!
Sounds amazing. And any higher ABV Springbank under $200 sounds "reasonable" nowadays. Hope Mike could grab one!!
Sold out! as soon as we were done I tried to find one.
Springbank 12 Cask Strength are always the best releases for me. I still love the all Bourbon
Dustin has a similar opinion, I believe. It's hard to top cask strength and a age statement.
I am still on Batch 1 100 % oloroso sherry 12y 54.6 % long LONG ago . . . (got a few cases back then) only 4 botts left . . . my locals no longer carry SB since 2015 ! !
@@ironmantran obtaining bottles these days is not easy on anyone. I was batching? I always found the older bottles more funky, more “Springbank”
guys ur review is intriguing, I m ON my way to get one😂
Great review guys. Would you grab this or the Bruichladdich 18 year? - they are the same price where I’m at
good question.... this SB12
Buy both, you won't regret. But they ate completely different whiskies. The B18 was underwhelming with the neck pour, but 9 months later it has really opened up into a wonderfully complex whiskey, a real standout bottle.
Thanks for the review guys. I’m in a ballot right now. Trying to get one of these. I missed out on the last two ballots didn’t score any but I did get another laphroaig cardieas 10
Buy all the Cardieas 10's man! Hopefully our subs will own them all :)
I’m keeping my eye out found this one on the shelf, but it’s at my local so I didn’t grab more than one
Good luck! I never win anything!!!! lol
@@topshelfwhisky yeah but you guys seem to find everything on the shelf must get a lot more more product where you’re at
@@kirbycalgary2844 I'm luck to live 30 minutes from one of the 5 largest liquor stores in America. That said so many of our reviews are from Mike going crazy and buying epic bottles off auctions and secondary places. We do well but also we only review what we found not what we didn't. Or we got samples!
Ive been lucky enough to get these for 100 to 129 euros. Thank you Jesus. Lol. Definitely going to buy 2 of these.
We don't mind a small and reasonable market up, after all there's a decent size ocean between us and the distillery. But I'd love to back to 120-130.
Great price... buy the shelf ')
Hi Mike and Dustin
Happy to see you enjoy your springbank 12year old cask strength, I just bought 4 bottles of the the 12cs and 2 bottles of the 15year old,I walked out the door for $400.00 US dollars for 4 bottles, springbank is getting easier to get where I live, for some reason, before last year it was almost impossible to find, and they were still on 2 cases of the 12year old and the 15year old, I'm not sure if springbank is doing something different or not, because it has always been difficult to find anywhere around me, I have had a hard time just to find the 10year old about every year or 2,and I always try and buy what they have in stock, and as you know springbank is very reasonably priced where I live. They're not putting there juice in boxes anymore and there the only whisky's that's now 700 ml.I hope it don't get the to where all distilleries do the same thing, because there cheating us out of whiskey, I don't mind if springbank does it because it is rare to find, but not as a whole if you know what I mean !!
Thanks for the great review on springbank, I was sipping on the same thing but 2022 release 12year old cs !!!!😊❤
Whoa, where do you live, man?
Great buy! Have you opened a 12 ? You're thoughts?
@@Beezee-ph9wv In Springbank Heaven!
@@topshelfwhisky it's good, but not as good as I remember from years past, but I still love it !!!
@Beezee-ph9wv
Hi sir
I bought the springbank bottles at spec's liquor in El paso Texas, and they don't ship anywhere is the problem with spec's !!!
SPRINGBANK IS THE BEST DISTILLERY IN THE WORLD🥳🥃👌💯
Hard to argue in 2024. Best core range in Scotland
Really want one after watching your review. Last got the 22 (100% bourbon) and really hope I can score one of these. Tough to source in FL though I have some kids scattered about I can use as mules.
Florida is a wasteland for whisky. My best friend lives in Port Charlette and I visit twice a year. I've been to ever liquor store from Ft. Myers to Venice. Never found a deal.
@@topshelfwhisky Agree better scotch is hard to come by in FL and prices tend to be much higher than NE. But got Batch 23 in Tampa for $130 from an online order made from Bardstown KY while on a bourbon trip, so I was happy. Last year, my son had an online order go through in Nashville for Batch 24, but they called back and said was already out of stock.
@vinole6532 I was in the same boat as you with the 12. Got that 100% ex-bourbon (and love it) but nary a sniff up here in Connecticut the last few years until two weeks ago. Cheers!
@@vinole6532 My friend did find a Laphroaig 25 (2014) for me in Tampa, a few years back. That was the only one... They had a HP30 cask strength for 1600
Where are these available? Haven’t seen on shelf since 2020.
They're getting a LOT more available now that the scotch auction prices are dropping. Found these are party source, but for some reason it was only online.
My state doesn't even offer them... the backrooms of Springbank
Sounds incredible. How does it compare to Laphroaig Cairdeas 2024? Is it that much better, especially for the money?
Different experience but we rated this Springbank slightly higher, if I'm not mistaken. Both are great and a great value.
I mean...the sherry bomb statement here is a bit much. The Cairdeas is a legit bomb. After that just two night and day distillates. I'll take the springbank but I'm bias. The Cairdeas is a bit cheaper and way more available...so if we're giving bonus points for that. Frog wins
Where is this for $150? When I visited the US I only saw this for $299.
I have 2 samples of this batch incoming :)
I had a friend get a couple at 130 even. Obviously the 299 bottles will just sit for ages as trophies these days so everyone will see those and think it's more normal. The stores at retail sell out in a week or two.
@@topshelfdustin3060 for 130 I would get 5 of these!!! I hate my market in Brazil… it popped up here (not very common and only a few select unofficial sellers), for the equivalents of $380. Ouch. Samples it is. 🤣
Sounds like I don't need to regret my order that is on its way. Paid a premium of 179€/$, but at least I got one.
heck no, that's annoying, but you'll be happy none the less.
i wonder what's your bottle code? 24/86 or 24/89 these two are both listed on whiskybase but 86 has a higher average scoring. thx guys❤😊
86
@@topshelfdustin3060 Thx 😊
Hmm not a typo there are 2 releases this year?
I was looking at a 24/89 at auction
I'm not sure if this is a good comparison, but how would you rate this Springbank CS to the Cairdeas 10 Cask Favorites you guys reviewed recently?
Very different whiskies , but similar in quality for the money.
@topshelfwhisky Thanks for the info. I bought a bottle of the 10 year Cairdeas because of your review. I'm loving it🥃
@@maltedbarleyman7834 obvious from the first sip 😉
Can you guys please tell me where you buy your scotch locally? What is store name?
Dustin drives around Kentucky until he finds SB
Well, 90% we don't get local. Springbank...well generally the party source is where things start. But Mike's right...I've gone 100 miles + looking around. And I can't share the hidden gems ;)
There is nothing on the market as good as Springbank products. Hate to be such a bandwagon guy but it’s true.
Every now and then one brand will put out a banger but for quality top to bottom...you're not wrong.
Quality up and down the core range.
where did you find it for $150? even when i order from the UK i shell around 230 after conversion and shipping
Just the local shops man. They're way more over seas these days as they're much more scares in the UK. I had a buddy down around New Orleans get 2 for 130 a piece. Just don't live in cali or the north east and prices shouldn't be too bad.
@@topshelfdustin3060I guess that’s my problem, I live in SoCal and the local shops will sell out in hours if priced 200 or less 😢
Please tell me the top three 12 cs in your mind。
You know...my biggest regret when I got into springbank was I had no idea about their batch variation. So I'd buy bottles, drink them, never thought about backups or vintages. So I never took notes until really mike and I started doing the channel. Mike wasn't the first but he really turned me on to the concept of years and vintages in general. Now i knew springbank mixed things up, but I always assumed it was to get back to a profile, not to give us new things each time.
So I'm not really able to remember back. The old black box 12's had some absolute bangers. Of the modern stuff this is up there. The 57.1 which had this awesome vanilla note is up there. The last release before this that we did was great.
What website do you even find these ???
Retail? Nobody anymore sadly. But I'll see them for 2x the US price in the UK and about 50-75 over will show up in the US if you're refreshing your favorites daily.
I have said for years there is no other reason to buy the 12 and this is yet another reason
No reason other than?
Can’t wait for your review of the 2014 Springbank 18 100% bourbon!
Lol, I know... I pride myself on not making mistakes (Dustin does the thumbnails). But I blew that intro.
2024 Springbank 18 100% bourbon
Yeah I'm normally the bone head...but Mike's not perfect. Also you know...we are drinking when we do these things :)
I now understand why you didn't really like batch 23. This batch 25 is far too sweet for me. Not too far from the last HB 15 oloroso you're right. And I didn't like it as much as the previous 15, much drier and sour. If batch 23 was a solid 89, this one would be 87 only because it is not my favorite profile.
I thought we were pretty high on the last one...which used more but darker sherry. Had a lot more oak influence while this is more vibrant fruits...and yes. Sweet.
Because of u2 gays i buy 6 bottles of this on ebay for 900euro
my favorite comment we've ever gotten! lol
@@topshelfdustin3060 pls do laphroaig 10 cs batch 17