Springbank Query

I don't know as many Scotch distillers would consider the bourbon casks a treatment. I think they are kind of the de facto barrel in use. Distilleries obtain their oak wherever they can, and since bourbon has to be made in a new cask by law, the barrels are available inexpensively after the initial use. Less expensively than sherry butts or other barrels in the newfangled "finishes." That was one of the things that separated the Macallan from the rest of the pack.

Port Ellen. Way expensive now. I wish I had remortgaged the house when it was under $100.
 
originally posted by Ken Schramm:
I don't know as many Scotch distillers would consider the bourbon casks a treatment. I think they are kind of the de facto barrel in use. Distilleries obtain their oak wherever they can, and since bourbon has to be made in a new cask by law, the barrels are available inexpensively after the initial use. Less expensively than sherry butts or other barrels in the newfangled "finishes." That was one of the things that separated the Macallan from the rest of the pack.

Port Ellen. Way expensive now. I wish I had remortgaged the house when it was under $100.
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Interesting. Any idea when bourbon barrels became common?

I had the Springbank again last night; it is very nice. I will be looking for Port Ellen to try one.
 
I'm not sure. It's really common practice. I would expect it would have coincided with the adoption of the new wood reg in Bourbon county, whenever that came about, although the practice might have been common before it was law. There's always been a lot of cross pollination. The master distiller set is a pretty small fraternity, and the guys who became moonshiners here were mostly moonshiners there first. Things got tightened up by the crown there and the revenuers here in the early to mid 1800's. That would be my best guess. The only version of the new wood Bourbon law I can find is from 1969, and I think that was a revision of a law already in place. If anyone knows more, I'm interested, too. Murray and Jackson don't have much to say on the subject.

Springbank is probably the most artisanal of the remaining distilleries, along with maybe Edradour. One reason for a little inconsistency would be that Springbank is one of the last distilleries, if not the last, still operating its own floor maltings. There is much more room for variability there than in a computer automated maltings that can nail germination, kilning temp and phenol content down to the ppm.

Anyone had the Hazelburn? Another homage to a now-defunct Campbeltown distillery being made at Springbank. Pretty limited production, I understand.
 
Steven, I came to an identical conclusion several years ago.

I'll happily drink either, but Springbank 10 is my favorite scotch. Sublime liquified solar energy via grass (not that kind!)

My wild guess was that maybe the 15 was aged at least partially in rum barrels. The 10 tastes more like fino sherry to me.
 
originally posted by Steven Spielmann:
The Ardbeg 1990 that is on the market right now is maybe the best scotch I've had this year. But now we're creeping up towards a benjamin.
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I think you are referring to the Airigh Nam Beist (it prominently displays 1990, the year it was distilled). While the price is certainly rising, I just grabbed a couple at $62 plus shipping from shoppersvineyard.com.

Report back on the Highland Park! I've always 'settled' for the 18 because it's so good (in absolute and QPR terms)...but inquiring minds want to know...

Caol Ila 18 is good scotch; the 12 is OK but strikes me as a little bit gimmicky, sort of a one-note whisky. (We discussed this in another thread six months or a year back.) I don't buy the 12.
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I got the 24 under $100.

For Caol Ila, I do like the 18 and the 12 but the ones I really like are hard to find: this Cask Strength bottling and the CL1 "Elements of Islay". From this same line, the AR1 is really an amazing bottle. Be aware that the Elements of Islay comes in 500 mL bottles (though really cool 500 mL bottles).

If you can get a few friends to join you, shipping from thewhiskyexchange.com is only high, not murderous. The prices are often low enough that it works out in the end.
 
Last night I poured the Springbank 15 for a friend and he said it was 'like drinking toffee' - really liked it. I enjoyed it too. But I do think the 10's that I've had have been somehow 'purer', which I get off on.

I think I may have underestimated the 15 a bit because I was going through the bottle at the same time as the Germain-Robin XO, which is rich, rich, rich brandy. Now that the GR is gone the I can appreciate the richness in the SB 15 more for what it is. But I think I still stand by my original judgment - now that Putnam is backing me up too I feel almost authoritative!

62 is a frickin' steal for that Ardbeg. It's ninetysomething in the local stores where I am and on-line I usually see it in the eighties. Not a bad bargain even at the higher prices if you have the coin.
 
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