Springbank 30-year-old

compared to last year, dirtier with more dunnage notes, but still in profile

Fruity, spicy, with little bit of SB funk, very drinkable - great!

Superb Springbank dram I've had among recent releases. Delicacy and smoothness up to the optimal level. Dried fruits like apricot, tropical fruits like pineapple, spices like anise and star anise, liquorice, as well as some apples and white hether floral and minty hasty Springbank's famous dusty flavor all combined. Upmost Springbank OB.

It has a strong sherry scent, somewhat reminiscent of woody perfumes, but the flavor is far inferior to the 2022 version. It lacks some of the distillery's distinctive character.

Quick hit review. We need to talk about unrealistic expectations, and whether or not you should spend 1000 € or more on a bottle of malt. Even if it's Springbank. Their younger expressions are all bangers, so this 30 YO must be 100 points, surely? Not quite. Delightful notes of mango, papaya and lychee emerge from my 1920s blender's glass, and I'm getting candied orange slices, blueberries and hints of soot. Dry wood spices and a flowery scent come through, but there is no funk. Tropical and zesty in the arrival, the palate turns mildly dry and acidic, with distinct sherry notes starting to dominate. Charred wood, baked apple and a pinch of salt add complexity. The finish swings back towards sweet grapes, lemon rind and fresh herbs, and the smile on my face returns. This is objectively great whisky - and yet I'm slightly disappointed, as I was hoping for more. It is not the Holy Grail of single malts, at least not for me. RATING: 4.5/5.0 stars ≙ 91 pts → SUPERB

Edit January 2026 after 6 months of air in the bottle: as almost always with Springbank, another points upgrade, +1 across the board - crazy fruit explosion - gummy bears on steroids, but hardly any smoke in the nose anymore. Springbank's DNA remains undeniable even after 30 years of maturation. And that's a good thing. It fits perfectly with the distillery's vertically integrated approach. A beautiful bottling, albeit without any major surprises.

Objectivity breaks down a little at this level, but somewhere between 91-93 points. Noticeable age and complexity, but preserves distillery character.

New Year: Old Whiskies, 01Jan2026: Daftmill 15yo OB 2006 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/206405/daftmill-2006 90- Clynelish Wy 1995 Apple Orchard https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/179702/clynelish-1995-wy 90+ Glen Keith 29yo PST 1992 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/189431/glen-keith-1992-pst 90- Dallas Dhu GM 1975 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/24840/dallas-dhu-1975-gm 88+ Linkwood 26yo SMWS 1990 #39.136 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/89715/linkwood-1990-smws-39136 90 Linkwood 28yo CA 1987 SB https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/77569/linkwood-1987-ca 90+ Linkwood 37yo GM 1939 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/206369/linkwood-1939-gm 90++ Probably Speyside's Finest 50yo DL 1967 XOP https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/110897/probably-speysides-finest-1967-dl 91- Springbank 30yo OB (2025) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/270988/springbank-30-year-old 92-

Judging a Springbank 30 with 2cl isn't a full or complete assessment. Nevertheless, it's certainly a pleasure. Such complex and fine whiskies can only be fully appreciated and the whisky can only be fully appreciated if one can pour oneself from an open bottle, play with water and change glasses over several weeks. I tried my sample from the blender glass and didn't play with water. Here you can also find 92 points and more if you can refill.

Peach juice

I'm thirty today, let's drink some Springbank! 11Dec2025: Springbank 18yo OB (20/02) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/147952/springbank-18-year-old 90+ Springbank 18yo Sb 2000 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/131319/springbank-2000-sb 90- Springbank 20yo SS 2003 Fresh Port https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/251383/springbank-2003 88- Springbank 21yo Private Bottling 2000 https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/219665/springbank-2000 91- Springbank 25yo OB (2023) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/248088/springbank-25-year-old 90- Springbank 1998 Vintage OB (2025) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/278270/springbank-1998 91- Springbank 30yo OB (2025) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/270988/springbank-30-year-old 91+ Springbank 30yo (2024) https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/255270/springbank-30-year-old 92-

A beautiful bourbon slightly dry aroma, and then everything is good, but still a bit dry, from start to finish a bit dry! (... Eh, I would like some zest and more density of body and depth, but it is what it is, so I won’t give it a 90, I just don’t know how to do it. 22 22+ 22 22+ 89

Perfect balance

Amazing

91/92/90/91

spices, apple, pear, tobacco, oak, apricot, peach, almond, vanilla, plum, papaya, plums, nuts, bit spicy, really enjoyable

Nose: Apple, toffee, hazelnut, smoke Taste: Apple, cream / Watery Finish: Apple, salt / Totally fresh red apple itself

Perfect balance

Unquestionably excellent, even though it might not be the most exciting spirit.

7 Colour: Sauternes 08. Legs: Fat and heavy. I don’t have a lot of expectations on whisky aged beyond 25yo for a reason, since cask management becomes critical - cask flavour can easily take over the distillate, overoxidized due to accumulated angle share, or cask can simply impart too much tannin. In this case, the nose has showed me a perfect picture but palate taken a steep fall. Nonetheless, it’s distinctively Springbank throughout and bourbon-led.

Delicious, tropical fruits, cotton candy with vanilla.

23+23+22+23

During this Campbeltown tasting, six expressions were tasted that together provided a nice overview of the character and diversity of this iconic whisky region. The line-up consisted of: WB295658 Kilkerran 12 (2026) – 86 points WB293403 Kilkerran 8 (Batch 12) – 88 points WB293900 Longrow 100 Proof (Batch 2) – 85 points WB294212 Longrow 23 (Cadenhead's) – 88 points WB293494 Springbank 18 (2025) – 90 points WB270988 Springbank 30 (2025) – 88 points General impression It was a successful tasting in which both young and older expressions came into their own. For me, the Springbank 18 clearly stood out as the winner, followed by the Kilkerran 8 and the Longrow 23. The Springbank 30 was undoubtedly impressive, but at the same time raises questions about the price-quality ratio. Kilkerran 12 (2026) An accessible and honest whisky that delivers exactly what you would expect within its price range. Fresh on the nose, lightly peated, and friendly in character. Not particularly complex, but pleasant and well-balanced—a solid choice for everyday enjoyment. Kilkerran 8 (Batch 12) While the 12 is primarily mild, the 8 reveals a very different profile: powerful, full-bodied, and distinctly peated, with a lovely fruity undertone. An expressive whisky with plenty of character at an attractive price. Although the previous batch in particular was possibly even slightly more impressive, this remains a strong bottling. Longrow 100 Proof (Batch 2) This expression lags somewhat behind compared to the rest of the lineup. It lacks a clear focus and fails to truly excel anywhere. Certainly not bad, but not memorable either. Compared to the earlier Longrow RED series, this bottling feels like a step backward, although it must be said that that line itself was already showing signs of decline in the last (7-year-old) release. Longrow 23 (Cadenhead's) Here, a clear step up is taken in terms of complexity and depth. The age is clearly noticeable, with a refined balance between fruitiness and a light wine-like finish, despite the influence of sherry. An elegant and interesting whisky, although a slightly higher alcohol percentage would have given it extra power. The price is steep, and although the quality is high, there may be alternatives in this segment with a better price-quality ratio. Springbank 18 (2025) The absolute standout of the tasting. This whisky convincingly combines complexity, balance, and character. The subtle sharpness adds extra tension and makes it particularly captivating. Although this expression has become pricey by now, the price-quality ratio remains excellent. A bottle that is absolutely worth having—and opening. Springbank 30 (2025) An impressive, old whisky with a soft, round, and refined profile. Everything is right, but the price places this expression far out of reach for most enthusiasts. It raises the question of where the line lies between maturation and added value. Nevertheless, it remains a special experience to be able to taste this whisky. Conclusion Based purely on taste, the battle for me would be between the two Springbanks. Even without considering price, the 18 is my preference due to its liveliness and tension. Nevertheless, the 30 remains a unique experience—a whisky you won't soon forget. And should the chance arise to drink a glass of it again, it is undoubtedly a moment to cherish.

tasted from a small Sample, thx Bob very consistent to the previous batches, bit more tropical compared with typical Springbank funk just look the notes from Vandeerwolf, cheers

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