Review #183 & #184: Springbank Local Barley 10 year and 11 year

These are two different local barley releases by Springbank.  The 10 is Belgravia from West Backs Farm.  It is 70% ex-bourbon and 30% ex-sherry, much like the 12 CS usually is.  The 11 uses Bere barley from  Aros Farm.  I have had the Bruichladdich Bere Barley and was not a fan.  I believe this release is all ex-bourbon

Springbank Local Barley 10

Cambeltown- 10 - NCF- NCA - $130 - 57.3%

Color - Deep Copper

Nose - Vanilla, ocean spray, funk, brown sugar, toffee 

Palate - Toffee, chocolate, tidal pools, touch of orange, 
Finish - Medium - Sticky Toffee pudding, salt, hint of berrys

Overall - 7 - This is very distillate forward and as the case with Springbank, it is a nice distillate.  The peat really only comes through on the nose.  The whole dram is just lovely and balanced.  It has a lot of sweet flavors without being sweet.  Solid dram. 

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Springbank Local Barley 11

Cambeltown- 11 - NCF- NCA - $120 - 53.1%


Color - Old Gold

Nose - Lemon, apples, iodine (like frog but very faint), oysters, and strangely fresh air

Palate - Lemons, cooking oil, apples, leather
Finish - Short - Lemons, caramel, vanilla, hint of boggy smoke, pepper

Overall - 5 - This is much less balanced than the first one.  Brash, oily and short.  It is strange how oily it is with such short of a finish.  The citrus oil just drives this thing.  I would say what I have said about all Bere Barly malt.  "That was nice to try, no thank you, I don't need another."

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.93

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16