Springbank 18YO 2024

The time has finally arrived, Springbank has arrived on the channel, and it was courtesy of a friend of the channel, Gabriel! Thank you very much, indeed, Gabriel.

Solely matured in 100% ex-bourbon casks for its life, this batch of Springbank 18 really had my attention, alas, I wasn’t able to source one from anywhere. God bless friends in whisky places.

Springbank 18YO has always been the one that nobody paid too much attention to. Sights were always on the 15YO, 12 Cask Strength, 10YO, and whatever else was released. The 18YO always seemed to be the batchiest release, varying the most in character. This one is loaded with some of the freshest and zestiest smells that I’ve ever come across on a Springbank release.

Creamy white chocolate and some caramel nut notes fill out a lot of blank space between that first hit of classic, ashy Springbank smoke.

I enjoyed drinking this and would savour it at RRP, but folks, don’t overpay for this. It’s good, quite good, but it isn’t worth the nearly £200 secondary price.

ralfy Extras – YOUR VOTE in the OSWA’s 2024

THE Online Scotch Whisky Awards

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ralfy review 1046 – Benriach ‘Smokey’ 12 @46%vol:

Fielden Rye Whiskey

THE REVIEW

Upon discovering heritage grains in old English thatched roofs, Fielden used the clover system to help farmers bring their fields back to life. Clover works as a natural fertiliser and is planted underneath the grain crops to help assist with a more natural farming process, with no nasty chemical being involved. Their focus on heritage grains involves rye, wheat, and barley.

Eight different mashbills are available at the distillery, which will aim to be a fully automated location in Yorkshire and aim to have 12,000 maturing casks by 2030. Matured in new American oak, used American oak. Sauternes wine casks, moscato wine casks, and Madeira wine casks.

The distillate is produced through pot and column stills, as well as shell and worm tub condensers, with a minimum maturation time of 42 months/3.5 years and a marrying peridot of 93 days.

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Glencadam White Port Cask, 46%

THE REVIEW

Glencadam has been a distillery that exemplified ‘summer whisky’, for me.

Their 10 year old release is one of the best, most affordable whiskies around that sings the joys of fruity, light, highland whisky.

This white port cask release has been on my radar for a while. I purchased it a month ago and was waiting for a warm spell to open it; there is no better time than now!

Matured in ex-American oak before being vatted together and finished in ex-white port casks, this is another warm weather gem that branches across sweet and light, through to earthy and a little herbal.

Glencadam should certainly be on all of your radars regarding a ‘must try’ distillery style. But if you’re in the market for a very well priced, fresh, boozy style of summer single malt, this certainly should be it.

ralfy review 1044 Extras – Comparing two excellent Port Charlottes !

Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada September 2024 Outturn

THE VIDEO

Join Adam as he once again introduces us to another epic set of SMWS releases at The Strath. Check out the SMWS page on The Strath’s webstore, where you can buy bottles and tickets to upcoming events – http://strathliquor.com/smws