Springbank 10 Year Old

Harsh finish

8th January 2020

To start with 46% not chill filtered natural colour. the bottle gets better as it gets down. Leather, wet dogs, peat, seaside, nutmeg, iodine, sherry and i think fizzy cider on the finish sometimes. But honestly all things to all men. Ace whisky from a great distillery. WORKING MANS WHISKY the real stuff.

16th December 2019

Paid 66.99 usd for a bottle (71.99 with tax) in 2019. This is an interesting malt. Let’s start with The good: This has to be much older than 10 years, honestly it feels and tastes more like an 18 year, albeit not a very settled one. It does coat the mouth and drink like an old dram. I love that this distillery does things the old ways and that they are a small independent operation. This malt keeps on changing as you drink it and is quiet mysterious as it keeps on morphing into different flavors with every visit. It does need a good bit of water to take out the heat, and it does seem stronger than 46 percent...however it is so hard to pinpoint the flavors of this malt as it is very elusive and is hard to pin down. The not so good: this malt confuses the palate and keeps changing its form. There are so many flavors going on that they start to contradict one another....lots of mismatched fruits, sweet, sour, bitter, earth, peat smoke, lambs wool, hay, medicinal, band aids, doctors office, lemon, lime, cola, almond, salt, oak, rum, tequila, old leather, attic dust, musty stone cellar, spring flowers, ginger, chamomile tea, brown sugar, etc. while some of these flavors are so good and intriguing, it is just so hard to pin point what exactly is going on here as all of those flavors are crashing against one another. All in all it’s down to the individual bottle and the individual. If this malt can be tamed, and a balance can be struck to find its sweet spot with some help of time, air and water...I believe this is a special malt with a self identity crisis. Perhaps pairing this with a desert or after dinner might help steer the palate in a specific direction. It does keep me coming back to it so as to figure out what I will taste and smell next glass. I think maybe if this was a few years older it may have matured into one personality, or at least a few rather than so many. Great quality malt for sure, just a bit of a schizophrenic as far as flavors go.

12th December 2019

For its price and age, this whisky is well above average. Complex, full of body and rich. I’ve not tasted whiskies with more than 16 yrs, but if age is a statement, it definitely not applies to this one. For a beginner as myself, encountering this dram was a “happy accident”.

22nd November 2019

Just amazing for double the price of a high street blended scotch. Obliterates more expensive whiskys that cost 3-5 times the price. Huge citrus peel/pith going on, antique sideboards, smoke, great tongue sting, the finish is pretty much anything you can dream up, as is the nose. Thai curry, lemongrass, bbq brisket, fresh wood shavings, mint , honey, star anise, cinammon, christmas pudding dry fruits. Not even funny how good this stuff is. Made a jerk chicken and chucked a dram over it and good god what a result.
Buy now and splash it on all over.

17th October 2019

Oh Campbelton loch I wish you were whisky, I would drink you dry! Quintessential scotch whisky, addictive, slightly smokey, warming, tasty, lifts your spirit and makes you smile. Liquid opium !

25th June 2019

Don't normally do reviews but this is exceptional for a ten year old.On the nose oak, fruit and spice in perfect balance with a hint of Campbeltown salinity.Rich sweet oily palate,again some salinity - quite a lot. The finish is long and spicy with a smokey tail.What's not to like at this price. I don't think you could do better for the money.

27th May 2019

This scotch has it all. Depth, great taste, higher abv, ncf, and no e150. It has so many great flavors combining together to make one of the best scotches under 100 dollars.

4th April 2019

Every sip makes you wanna say out loud: "Delicious!"

17th March 2019

Quite fresh oaky, bit spakling bity with a sweet smoke, earthy n bold, rich n creamy, fruity with quite sweet caramel salty vanilla like finish.

14th February 2019

The Springbank team use traditional production methods and are involved in every step of the whisky making process. Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, this is perfectly balanced from the first sip through to the full, rich finish. Orchard fruit with a hint of peat, vanilla and malt on the nose, the palate then opens to oak, spice, nutmeg and cinnamon and vanilla essence. A fantastic sweet and salty finish makes this a favorite!

2nd January 2019

For its modest price and age there is simply nothing that can match Springbank 10. I find it amazing to read reviews that decry the lack of complexity and it being harsh. Many whiskies 20 years or older struggle to match the depth and character of this humble dram. This latest bottle has a peachy stone fruit nose intertwined with a whisp of sticking plaster and salty burnt wood. Massive rich and spicy mouthful piney fragrant but reveals so much. Add some water and it moves to another level. Long creamy and smokey finish for 40 quid it’s a no brainier but it won’t last long because very little at this price comes close. Maybe an ardbeg ten is close but the springbank adds another dimension. Do not buy if you have a shallow obsession with middle of the road brand whiskies !

22nd December 2018

Considering the age and the pice range, it is quiet amazing stuff. Very, very well balanced with the costal peat, the fruits, the switness and this pleasant and long aftertaste. Far better than Ardbeg 10 yo and even better than the Laphroaig 10 yo I guess (which is one of my favorite).
Compare to this, gentle peated whisky like Bowmore taste like water... I mean, not really, but you get the idea. Excellent !

26th November 2018

Thought it lacked character and nose. I may have been misinformed, but I was expecting more. Very little peat or smoke.

10th September 2018

loved the guy comparing this to glenfiddich....hahahahha good one.

21st August 2018

An excellent 10yr old, the bourbon / sherry cask mix works very well to make a very complex and rewarding drink with a balance of peat and honey. Finish is considerably longer than the age would suggest. Anyone who enjoys this malt should try to take a tour of the distillery which is an entirely “by hand” affair from malting to bottling. Five stars considering its peer “age group”.

15th August 2018

How do you find somebody who knows nothing about single malts? Scroll down to the people who don't like this. This is the benchmark for standard whiskies. There isn't a better or more complex 10 year old. Natural color and non-chill filtered. Get this one, folks and graduate to the educated malt drinkers.

30th June 2018

Not the best taste in a whisky, to be honest tastes slightly like medicine. Similar to Laphroaig.

2nd June 2018

Welcome to Springbank! A great introduction to Campbeltown. The nose is rich and sharp, once you acclimatise however it’s all earthy dark fruits with that classic Springbank medicinal twang. The peat seems to dance around the rich costal flavours. It manages to be well rounded all the way through from lips to finish. 15/18yo make this look tame so if this is you’re cup of tea they are highly recommended!

31st May 2018

Medicine. Just medicine. I love it. Clean mature earthy taste with fruit and eoody tones. More please.

11th May 2018

Smooth, creamy, fruity, smoky, with notes of caramel and wood.

3rd March 2018

I had very high expectations for Springbank 10 given the almost universal praise on whisky forums and youtube reviews. After trying so many disappointing, overhyped whiskies, I was delighted to find that Springbank not only met, but exceeded my great expectations.

On the nose, you get stone fruits, rich honey and woody spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and mace. Leave it a bit longer and you get some warm menthol/tiger balmy notes. On the tongue there is a rich, sweet arrival that is similar to Glenfarclas 12. I wonder whether this richness in taste is due to the direct firing of the stills. Anyway, this sweetness develops into a gentle throat lozenge warmth before the peat really kicks in and leaves a peppercorn heat on the tongue. Mouthfeel is absolutely gorgeous.

Up till now Talisker was far and away the best 10 year old whisky I had, but I think this is richer and more complex. I still prefer Talisker because its flavour profile appeals to me more, but the quality of Springbank cannot be ignored.

30th January 2018

I feel that the flavour is very harsh,compared with say, Glenfiddich or many other fine Scotch Whiskeys.

12th January 2018

Light peat smoke, savory and sweet, flavor overload!

11th December 2017

Excellent, and I mean EXCELLENT, for a 10yr. Very well balanced and everything is there, from peat, smoke, salt, fruit, etc. A must try.

25th November 2017

When I think of Malt 🥃 this is the benchmark. This has everything peat, smoke, salt, fruit and a totally balanced dram from start to finish. Iechyd da.

19th November 2017

I don't know why I have never tried this scotch. Even on "lets try something new" trips to the local Liquor Store I've only held it and nothing more.
Until today.
Lets call it Highland Park 12 Yo's younger genius 10 Yo brother.
The nose satisfies your initial curiousity while drawing you in to dig deeper.
The palate is deep, lively, sweet smoky, going through its paces but never dying
The finish is just perfect, dies away slowly and says come on back.
Wow!

14th November 2017

97/100

12th November 2017

97/100

12th November 2017

One of the best 10 year olds in the market by far. Fabulous dram!

4th November 2017

Stunning 10yrd , better than some 18yrds , complex & balance , would like to know what whisky's some of the other reviewers are drinking if they think springbank us the worst whisky they've had

22nd October 2017

It's a brilliant 10. Talisker and this. Unctious and Sumptuous. A Cambeltown great.

20th October 2017

One of my favourite 'bang for your buck' whiskies. For a 10 year old it's more complex than many an older whisky.

Does the sweet to dry thing. Hint of peat smoke. Finish is good. Pretty much a 'must have' whisky in my house.

30th September 2017

Totally justifies it's reputation as one of, if not the, best 10 yr olds on the market. Never without a bottle on my shelf. Ever.

29th September 2017

The only scotch I have such a negative feeling to. Undrinkable.

14th September 2017

My, oh my! Balance is the key word. Wonderful nose of smoke, peat, vanilla, ripe pears, perhaps raspberries and something herbal. Pine needles maybe? The palate develops something superb. It starts sweet with fat, oily vanilla and toffee, progressing to citrus (oranges?) and cinnamon and then fiery pepper. The finish gets a little brine, smoke peat and hints of leather with maybe just a hint of banana at the end. It's a unique whisky that deserves your time. Just wow.

27th April 2017

My bottle has been open 4 months now, often compared to the 15yo and the 12CS. So recently I laid my hands on the Kilkerran 12, so it was time for a comparison. Verdict: both such excellent whiskies. Each standing its own ground proudly. But wow oh wow. The ten now really impresses, since the Kilkerran 12 is such a stunner. Always well worth every penny. Campbeltown whiskies really take pride on my shelves. Excellently crafted.

26th April 2017

What a great whisky without the wallet taking a pounding. It has all the taste variety of the Islay malts. Campbeltown with Glen Scotia and Springbank 10 are worthy of greater adulation easier on the wallet doesn't mean less on the palate.

5th April 2017

This is the first time I've reviewed a whisky so will keep it very simple. Just tasted my first dram of Springbank 10 and am in whisky heaven right now. It's complex, warm, intoxicatingly rich and with a subtle peat and oaky finish that surpasses 10 years. Delicious! Will be ordering another bottle very very soon.

10th February 2017

Very complex from the nose to the finish. Will definitely purchase another bottle.

23rd January 2017

Love this 10 year old.

18th January 2017

Pound for pound one of the best entry-level malts I've tasted, and better than many pricier and older whiskies. Up there with Ardbeg 10, Bunnahabhain 12 and Oban 14 for me, and that's high praise indeed.

6th January 2017

I've always known Springbank is a unique whisky, but it still took me 3 years of whisky adventures before I finally tried my first ever Springbank yesterday, the 10YO. And it is unique indeed. If anything, it only reminds me a bit of Classic Laddie, but nothing else. It's got loads of finesse, elegance and balance perfection between the various elements: bourbon and sherry casks, a hint of peat, salinity, liquorice, citrus, smoke. For some reason I've always had the impression that this should be a very punchy whisky, but it's actually just perfect. A masterpiece for this age and price. Loving and recommending it.

15th December 2016

Tried it for the first time and just loved it. Will definitely be buying a bottle.

5th December 2016

in my top 5 whiskeys 4 years into my whiskey adventure after trying a few 15 year old + drams and its just as good as them well worth a punt

1st December 2016

Sweet and subtle. Very well made. Quite balanced, pleasant arrival good development and nice finish. Nutty and spicy notes. Very good. Does not need any water added.

27th November 2016

Campbeltown single malt med en doft av citron, sälta, banan, persika mer exotiska frukter, ek samt rök. Smak: Uppfattas som ganska stark i smaken men där finns rök, kryddighet samt lite lätt fruktig. Helt okej whisky som tyvärr är alldeles för dyr i Sverige!

15th November 2016

Haven't tried the Springbank 10 for a few years, but upon returning to this beautiful malt I find that it is still as lovely as ever. Something I have noticed is that it can be a bit "fiery" when first opened (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), however, once you've drunk about a third of the bottle and given it a couple of weeks to "breathe" this initial sharpness disappears. All in all a benchmark malt by which others should be measured and, given the low cost of a bottle of this, an example of how overpriced many lesser single malts are.

15th October 2016

Islay was the gateway for me – as it is for many – such extraordinary whisky (and marketing) means that it has become a rite of passage.

Since then, I've tried and enjoyed almost everything Islay has to offer (not every 'expression', of course, that would be nuts, and very expensive too, but every distillery and nearly all the core line products) and I've enjoyed many and loved a few.

However, I do find a disconnect sometimes between the price tag and the stuff in the glass. Non-age statement mega-hyped whiskies that lack character or depth.

This 'friend', however, relativity recently discovered, restores faith in all that is great about scotch; it may (naturally) lack some of the subtlety or complexity of some older age statement whiskies, but it is still seriously good stuff. And just ridiculously good when you consider the cost (less the £40 a bottle).

For anyone stuck on the Islay bandwagon, or just keen to discover great whisky, I urge you to try this seriously delicious dram – it's a true benchmark of taste and quality. I love it. And I think you will too.

1st October 2016

I'm drinking a dram of this whilst listening to Glasgow Kiss by John Petrucci. In their own way, both are exquisitely complex, deeply rewarding and leave a lasting impression.

16th September 2016

One dram is all it took for me to fall in love with this, my new favourite Scotch. Being new to the world of Whisky I have quickly gone from Caol Ila, to Laphroaig, to Ardbeg to Old Pultney and Glenfiddich. All have their upside, some more than others, but the Springbank has a little something different. Maybe its the 46% alcohol content it's bottled at, or the fact that there's no colour added or that it's not chill filtered. All these make it a strong flavourful Scotch that I really love.

6th September 2016

I am relatively new to the world of single malt scotch. Just tried this one and reminds me of the Benromach 10 year old, only better. Benromach 10 year has been one of my faves and now this Springbank 10 year will be there slightly ahead.

31st July 2016

Solid dram, bottle worthy for sure. Sweet with honey and a little dash of peat. Minor sugar on the nose along with sweet oranges.

26th May 2016

It is enigmatic and an acquired taste for sure. First dram didn't really do it for me but it's one to experiment with. Non Chillfiltered and natural colour are also positives. Good balance with no overpowering features from any of its attributes. Oily in texture with a hint of smoke and salt and a good balance of citrus vanilla and other fruit. Lightly spiced with a good finish.

1st April 2016

Nose starts out as honey with a hint of orange and ends with burning smoke and leather. Further nosing brings up a herbal quality and stronger citrus along with the initial aromas. Palate is intense, oily, smoky, honey and sea salt. Could literally spend hours nosing a dram of this. Surprisingly complex for a 10 year old and really opens up over time.

8th March 2016

Incredible Whisky for its price category. Deliciously bourbon, sherry, fruity with a touch of peat. Finely balanced and very drinkable.

25th February 2016

This is a whisky you can spend time with. At first, salty, sour, vinegar peat, but add a few drops of water (not too much), let it breathe, the sourness and turn into salty floral peat, amazing, with the key characteristics of a bourbon cask! Amazing craft-orientated distillery!

6th December 2015

This is my first and only campbeltown whisky I've been able to find so far and it is awesome.Starts out fiery and oaky with hints of leather and seaweed.Very tangy and exciting also quite well rounded has all the things I like about scotch in one bottle. If other campbeltown's taste like this I want them in my collection this is good stuff. The Sugarbear

5th December 2015

The fact that springbank distillery still is the only one in the country that still carries out 100% of the whisky making process was enough to make me give it a go.
to the nose smells of orange peel and slight peat.
to the palate lovely smokiness ,vanilla and touch of sea salt.
excellent buy

21st June 2015

My brother-in-law loves it...

18th May 2015

When I first opened bottle it wasn't anything special, but in week, when it I drank few drams it transfomed to very complex and delicius whisky. Very distincitive and interesting!

18th April 2015

Have just compared this with Hazelburn 10 and I am disappointed having expected the peated version to be superior. It is inferior in all respects to the rather superb Hazelburn and my peated favourite Ledaig. Tasted 5 mins after opening and I could find nothing to recommend it. But It should be noted that others have not enjoyed on first taste.

10th April 2015

I tasted some wiskies and have big expectations for this but I find lack of charackter and complexity

5th April 2015

Must admit, when I first tried this I was not quite sure about it. Love the Islays and so many others, but this is whisky in its own rite.
Pleasant nose . . caramel and spices, tastes of nuts and figs with oak and a little smoke (though hardly perceptible). Really nice burn on the finish, with some salt and seaweed. Love it. I will be buying this often.

22nd March 2015

Smooth and distinctive....

10th March 2015

No doubt a wonderful whisky for those who drink it but it can make the drinker rather nasty and argumentative.

28th February 2015

From a neat pour I immediately got the sense of sweet smoke, wet peat and smoked salt. The palate is chewy and oily, but slightly sulphured and dry on the trail end. Heavy oak notes and furniture polish lend way to the soft peated undertone, with cold smoke and more briny coastal notes that follow. The long finish projects a salty wash of seaweed accompanied by more smokiness that is so convencing it compells you to smell your own shirt. While this is not close to what I prefer in a whisky, as a taster, I can appreciate the nuances this dram puts forth. If you haven't tried a Springbank 10, get a sample from the chaps at Master of Malt. If you like whisky, you owe it to yourself to try this at least once. It will gently nudge you to new flavors, experiences, and appreciations.

18th February 2015

Not quite as easily approachable as other single malts and not for the novice drinker. But once you give it time to relax and mellow my my will you be treated with awesomeness! ! Smell is subtle speyside peaty balanced goodness, taste is quite complex but if were to describe it would be comparable to a highland park slightly less sweet but defenitely brinier!

16th December 2014

I happen to like a number of different whiskies, but my favorite by far is Springbank 10 yr. I find that it has an excellent character with a smoky start to a long smooth finish. I recommend pairing it with roquefort cheese on a multigrain baguette for a wonderful tasting experience.

7th November 2014

Tried a sample as a friend recommended it to me and will be making it the next malt I buy a bottle of. Perfectly balanced for me. The salinity is lovely and it was peatier than I expected, which was nice, as I'm a big Islay fan. The tasting notes above pretty much nail it to be honest.

27th June 2014

always wanted to try this one... first dram "came out of the bottle angry" and was not nice at all. next day it was a very different whisky, very accurate tasting notes from MoM, very drinkable, benefits from a small drop of water and some time to open up and develop.

28th April 2014

I had this once and didn't like it, but I presume the bottle had been open for some time on the shelf of a hole in the wall pub in Scotland. Will be trying again for sure.

23rd February 2014

Smells just fantastic. Taste even better. My first campbeltown, and i am loving it! Smoky, sweet, salty, fresh, fruity and drying out in the finish. I am hooked.
Can the 15 y.o be better than this?

13th February 2014

This is an excellent whisky. Smooth and smoky with a hint of salinity. Described as candied beef jerky, I couldn't agree more! I still have a bottle of Springbank 18 to open. Will it be as good? Can it justify the price difference? Only time will tell!

25th December 2013

This is an excellent whisky. Smooth and smoky with a hint of salinity. Described as candied beef jerky, I couldn't agree more! I still have a bottle of Springbank 18 to open. Will it be as good? Can it justify the price difference? Only time will tell!

25th December 2013

Really enjoyable, boasting a great maturity for a ten year old; a fantastically atmospheric malt. Really enjoyable with seafood, or even surf and turf. Nose: Earthy and warm, spicy peatiness melds with salt caramel very harmoniously. Palate: Full with barley sweetness, like riding a wave of salted caramel with that beautifully balanced peat weaving its way into the medley. Finish: Rich smoke. Sweetness gives way to a salty tang. Long and satisfying, oak infused with the smells and tastes of the coast.

18th April 2013

This is my first bottle of Campbeltown and I'm not dissapointed, this offers something very different from the rest of my collection. Intense oak and damp earth with a lovely middle sweetness and strong sea air and brine. Has a lot to offer for a 10yo NCF (Thumbs up) No Caramel Colour (two Thumbs up) What a cracking dram and agreat standard expression ..15 yo next!

20th September 2012

To me it was really a Bourbon Barrel Edition. Though it had't the freshness of bourbon Bruicladdich editions. Non chill-filtered and no caramel added. This is a very good 10yo incarnation.

18th February 2010

Definately more peaty than I'd thought it would be. It's the first thing that hits you on the nose and it stays in the taste. Its most defining characteristic (to me, at any rate) is its combination of oaky dryness and subtle tropical fruityness (particularly if you give it a little splash of water and a couple of minutes in the glass). I didn't get many of the typical sherry notes, save for a slightly sulphorous overtone on the nose. A particularly dry, tangy malt with mild peaty smokiness always present. Very nice stuff.

11th December 2009