I have a new bottle of this also, but haven't attacked it too much yet. Need to come back to it. I remember liking my first one from 2019, but my palate is more experienced or spoiled since. Still at €59 and available here, so hard to argue with value for money.
The longrow peated can certainly be polarizing. The earlier cask has some of the most intense iodine notes. I love it, but appreciate I’m alone in that among some of my tasting friends. I didn’t realize a new bottling existed. With that darkened coloring alone it is worth exploring this comparison. Thanks for the review!
@5:14 my favourite thing makes its appearance❤. They(longrow/Kilkerran) are good but I personally feel they are over hyped/over priced. Thank you, boys. Always appreciate your work.
Was going to say The Unicorn however both are Unicorns especially here on Pluto, I mean Canada , The 25 just out of curiosity, not sure what you had to do to get it (lol) but we don't need to know. Cheers.
Dead casks is going to be pretty impossible with anything Springbank releases - they only use their casks twice, the third fills are used as marriage casks when producing/selecting a new batch. Also the Longrow NAS is 7-8-9 years old and I absolutely love it, especially for the price we can sometimes get it for here in Europe (although it's getting more & more difficult here as well).
Interesting review! I've recently opened my Longrow NAS which was bottled in 26-11-16 and it has a super sweet nose. Vanilla dripping from a bbq rack and big maritime notes on the palate. Only the finish is a bit of a letdown. I've kinda left Longrow Peated on the side because it had a huge price increase over here. Got my first bottle for 35 euros (no brainer) and the new 2022 is 60 euros. But might be worth checking out after all.
very good review of something I can relate to. I'm still drinking a 2020 that was $75, and it's opening up to be a nice dram. The older SpringBank10 and Hazelburn10 I have are both lemon bombs. Really hard to tell them apart. The LR has much more going on. There's a score of 2017 bottles of all entry level Spring Banks in Florida still selling for 60-70. Actually, they were in the path of Ian last week so we'll see if they made it. I only bought one of these LR NAS and KK12. I was getting psyched to pick up another SB10 or 2 next trip but now I'm a little sad that the new versions are so much better. I''m not spending $100 for a 46% NAS or a 10 year old. Victoriana and Cairdeas are bad enough at $90+, at least CS.
Springbank 10 has so much variance batch to batch. It always beg the question. Do you want a consistently good product for a fair price or would you want one that ranges from decent to exceptional at a fair price? Now springbank's prices have jumped the shark...but I rather like the surprise of springbank.
I forgot to comment. I'm glad you thought this was a step up from the previous ones you tried. I just felt that this still has some younger stuff but vatted with some older stuff too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a change in the cask make up as well, as Springbank are prone to do. I completely get what you're saying, Dustin, with regards to shipping prices for inexpensive bottles. The thing is I never thought that would be the case for an expression like this. You're able to buy all manner of Springbank over there which we just can't get our hands on any more unless we visit the distillery.
11 months late, but I recently acquired another bottle of this exact same batch on sale and I wanted to see what we said then. But I never responded on your note about this expressions. Yes, I get these locally but Springbank is unique in that our MSRP is 2x yours even adjusted for currency value while normal bottles are like 25 to maybe 50%. Example MSRP on this is the same or more than Glendronach 15. And that pricing difference is why I get these bottles, they're just wildly expensive to start with here. Infact I just looked at the longrow NAS, it's 50.67 USD equivalent online from the UK and it would be about 50 shipping...that would actually save me about 6-7 bucks vs buying here with tax if I bought it solo. Springbank is it's own unique weird thing. And all of this is because Springbank is letting the importer to the US do this. These prices aren't from the distributors or the local stores (mostly...some stores are marking up by me and elsewhere it's a problem). Springbank RETAIL has gotten so bad on the older expressions that with the auction market getting softer, some americans are now buying things like Springbank 21 off auction and paying less that locally. mean while I can't get glencadam or glenturret in the 3 states I shop in. Just not available. So....back to so many good value brands I can't get without spending more.
I picked up a bottle in May '21 in Aus and to me it's almost indistinguishable from mezcal. Doesn't mean it's not good on it's own merits. But compared to what Springbank and Hazelburn 10 offer it falls way short IMO.
Years ago these were $50. Then crept up to $68 and now if I'm lucky to find Longrow Peated NAS it will be $83. Not sure if I'd pay that for it. Love the review.
@@topshelfdustin3060 Dang!!! At the rate prices are rising for Springbank or Campbelltown stuff I'm going to leaving the brand alone. Pricing is getting nuts. It sounds good from the review but 100 good. I may have to stock up on that Arran 10 year.
@@TheReal_DeanD I need me my "lightly peated" stuff like springbank. But finding good alternatives are hard. Arran doesnt check those boxes. Good stuff, but does do that. HP used to be that, but their quality is going down.
@@topshelfdustin3060 Very valid points. I found a place that has older HP12 from maybe 3-5 years ago. I may go stock up. Would Ledaig 10 be similar to the Longrow Peated? Those are plentiful by me. I wish I kept some of my Longrow Peated from a couple of years back. I finished it taking for granted it would be on the shelves consistently.
Wasn’t a big fan of this expression but based on your review, I might pick up a bottle later today. Any new Springbank review coming up? I feel like Dustin went dry, hopefully not!
@@topshelfdustin3060 I didn’t even know that new 25 has been released in the U.S. I just was able to get a new local barely and last year 21 year old plus some 10 and 15 in the last few months. Things seems like to fly off the shelves or maybe never even see the shelves.
@@Houman7 I haven't seen a 21 since the 2019 release in the states. And I think I saw the 2020 longrow 21 here. No hazelburn 21, no hazleburn 15, no longrow red 15.... I never saw last year's hazelburn 13 either. No clue how we both got the new 25 and got it so fast.
well then, it still sounds like a passable whisky to me. I'm curious to try it to note any improvement. I've never been into Longrow, including the Red releases. The 21 was nice, but a no-brain pass at $500 for me.
@@DarkSalmonz oh there are single casks WELL worth 300 lol, but yeah that's a bit much imo too. before that local barely changed the springbank market, you could find the 18's for about 120 in the UK and ship them over.
I have a new bottle of this also, but haven't attacked it too much yet. Need to come back to it. I remember liking my first one from 2019, but my palate is more experienced or spoiled since. Still at €59 and available here, so hard to argue with value for money.
The longrow peated can certainly be polarizing. The earlier cask has some of the most intense iodine notes. I love it, but appreciate I’m alone in that among some of my tasting friends. I didn’t realize a new bottling existed. With that darkened coloring alone it is worth exploring this comparison. Thanks for the review!
@5:14 my favourite thing makes its appearance❤.
They(longrow/Kilkerran) are good but I personally feel they are over hyped/over priced. Thank you, boys. Always appreciate your work.
Fiji water fans unite!
What Springbank review would you like to see next? The new local barley 10 or the new 25 year?
Obviously will get the both at some point
New 25
LB
Both. I got the new LB but finances restrict the new 25
Was going to say The Unicorn however both are Unicorns especially here on Pluto, I mean Canada , The 25 just out of curiosity, not sure what you had to do to get it (lol) but we don't need to know. Cheers.
LB
Dead casks is going to be pretty impossible with anything Springbank releases - they only use their casks twice, the third fills are used as marriage casks when producing/selecting a new batch. Also the Longrow NAS is 7-8-9 years old and I absolutely love it, especially for the price we can sometimes get it for here in Europe (although it's getting more & more difficult here as well).
Thoughts on what accounted for color difference then? Also why my SB25 that is 100% sherry is lighter than this Longrow NAS?
@@topshelfdustin3060 I was told the same thing on my distillery tour. Third fill used for marrying. Maybe that rule was not always in place.
@@WhiskyMystery well not all 2nd fills are created equal. Short use vs long use and all. And yeah, was it always the same?
@@topshelfdustin3060 True. After a 20+ year Fresh Sherry deployment there may not be much left.
@@WhiskyMystery yep
Interesting review! I've recently opened my Longrow NAS which was bottled in 26-11-16 and it has a super sweet nose. Vanilla dripping from a bbq rack and big maritime notes on the palate. Only the finish is a bit of a letdown. I've kinda left Longrow Peated on the side because it had a huge price increase over here. Got my first bottle for 35 euros (no brainer) and the new 2022 is 60 euros. But might be worth checking out after all.
very good review of something I can relate to.
I'm still drinking a 2020 that was $75, and it's opening up to be a nice dram. The older SpringBank10 and Hazelburn10 I have are both lemon bombs. Really hard to tell them apart. The LR has much more going on.
There's a score of 2017 bottles of all entry level Spring Banks in Florida still selling for 60-70. Actually, they were in the path of Ian last week so we'll see if they made it.
I only bought one of these LR NAS and KK12. I was getting psyched to pick up another SB10 or 2 next trip but now I'm a little sad that the new versions are so much better.
I''m not spending $100 for a 46% NAS or a 10 year old. Victoriana and Cairdeas are bad enough at $90+, at least CS.
Springbank 10 has so much variance batch to batch. It always beg the question. Do you want a consistently good product for a fair price or would you want one that ranges from decent to exceptional at a fair price? Now springbank's prices have jumped the shark...but I rather like the surprise of springbank.
I forgot to comment. I'm glad you thought this was a step up from the previous ones you tried. I just felt that this still has some younger stuff but vatted with some older stuff too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a change in the cask make up as well, as Springbank are prone to do. I completely get what you're saying, Dustin, with regards to shipping prices for inexpensive bottles. The thing is I never thought that would be the case for an expression like this. You're able to buy all manner of Springbank over there which we just can't get our hands on any more unless we visit the distillery.
11 months late, but I recently acquired another bottle of this exact same batch on sale and I wanted to see what we said then. But I never responded on your note about this expressions. Yes, I get these locally but Springbank is unique in that our MSRP is 2x yours even adjusted for currency value while normal bottles are like 25 to maybe 50%. Example MSRP on this is the same or more than Glendronach 15. And that pricing difference is why I get these bottles, they're just wildly expensive to start with here.
Infact I just looked at the longrow NAS, it's 50.67 USD equivalent online from the UK and it would be about 50 shipping...that would actually save me about 6-7 bucks vs buying here with tax if I bought it solo. Springbank is it's own unique weird thing. And all of this is because Springbank is letting the importer to the US do this. These prices aren't from the distributors or the local stores (mostly...some stores are marking up by me and elsewhere it's a problem).
Springbank RETAIL has gotten so bad on the older expressions that with the auction market getting softer, some americans are now buying things like Springbank 21 off auction and paying less that locally.
mean while I can't get glencadam or glenturret in the 3 states I shop in. Just not available. So....back to so many good value brands I can't get without spending more.
I picked up a bottle in May '21 in Aus and to me it's almost indistinguishable from mezcal. Doesn't mean it's not good on it's own merits. But compared to what Springbank and Hazelburn 10 offer it falls way short IMO.
I’m
Sure Dustin will agree the SB10 is better value for the money.
@@topshelfwhisky well we just had both the springbank and hazelburn 10. I think we both agree this year's hazelburn was the winner?
Years ago these were $50. Then crept up to $68 and now if I'm lucky to find Longrow Peated NAS it will be $83. Not sure if I'd pay that for it. Love the review.
Yeah man’s that’s high.
100 here locally. 99.99
@@topshelfdustin3060 Dang!!! At the rate prices are rising for Springbank or Campbelltown stuff I'm going to leaving the brand alone. Pricing is getting nuts. It sounds good from the review but 100 good. I may have to stock up on that Arran 10 year.
@@TheReal_DeanD I need me my "lightly peated" stuff like springbank. But finding good alternatives are hard. Arran doesnt check those boxes. Good stuff, but does do that. HP used to be that, but their quality is going down.
@@topshelfdustin3060 Very valid points. I found a place that has older HP12 from maybe 3-5 years ago. I may go stock up. Would Ledaig 10 be similar to the Longrow Peated? Those are plentiful by me. I wish I kept some of my Longrow Peated from a couple of years back. I finished it taking for granted it would be on the shelves consistently.
Wasn’t a big fan of this expression but based on your review, I might pick up a bottle later today.
Any new Springbank review coming up? I feel like Dustin went dry, hopefully not!
Nothing officially in the pipeline but I've gotten a local barley and a 25 recently. Nothing else has shown up.
@@topshelfdustin3060 I didn’t even know that new 25 has been released in the U.S. I just was able to get a new local barely and last year 21 year old plus some 10 and 15 in the last few months. Things seems like to fly off the shelves or maybe never even see the shelves.
@@Houman7 it wasn’t easy, but Dustin came through again this year with the best Springbank.
@@Houman7 I haven't seen a 21 since the 2019 release in the states. And I think I saw the 2020 longrow 21 here. No hazelburn 21, no hazleburn 15, no longrow red 15.... I never saw last year's hazelburn 13 either. No clue how we both got the new 25 and got it so fast.
well then, it still sounds like a passable whisky to me. I'm curious to try it to note any improvement. I've never been into Longrow, including the Red releases. The 21 was nice, but a no-brain pass at $500 for me.
Some of the 18's are pretty dang good, but the price is sky rocketing on those too.
@@topshelfdustin3060 just saw the latest Longrow 18 in Chicago for $300....too much for a Longrow, even a good one imo
@@DarkSalmonz oh there are single casks WELL worth 300 lol, but yeah that's a bit much imo too. before that local barely changed the springbank market, you could find the 18's for about 120 in the UK and ship them over.
I tend to prefer the Kilkerran heavily peated releases. They are more interesting. I find this Longrow a little one dimensional.