🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Yes, feels young but is surprisingly drinkable - the creaminess and fruitiness is already there despite 9 years only

White fruits and white pepper on the nose, with cream and mango on the palate with a long finish , but not really enjoyable and the price for this now is ridiculous.

The first impression - young Lagavulin, slightly standing up, began to remind himself, Springbank, young, tasty, strong but not alcoholic, very good for a start! 20 22 22 21 85 I left, I am waiting for development ... After standing it became worse, even much worse, 30 minutes and it fell apart, how is it? Nose with a stretch of 20, alcoholic taste, simple aftertaste, though warming for a long time. 20 19 21 20 80 In general, an average of 83, and you only need to drink from the opening and very quickly ... sad

Springbank always works very well young - and the Local Barley 9yo is no exception. With the prices called up, you can't avoid losing a few words about them, although I find price considerations rather tedious. The fact that the fourth edition of the current Local Barley series is still available in numerous shops weeks after it came on the market shows that the flagpole of what the inclined Springbank fan is ready has slowly been reached to pay for a young, not so badly limited whisky from this distillery. Will this lead to a rethink? Probably not. Sometimes it went over the counter here in Germany for 85.00. That's OK. Edit November 2021: What was I naive in 2018. (Only) three years later, and the part is offered here in the base for a price starting at € 400. This is really a totally crazy development.

Better than 10 and 11yo Local Barley, but not better than the 16yo. Prelum stuff. 88/89.

Dark straw colour. Oily whisky.

88.5

N- Don't hold your breath, this one kind of gentle and easily breath in. Not as bold as the 11YO and 16YO but is still Springbank, you know... Distant bonfire whiff by, mineral, dark molasses and tobacco just to tease. Drift of fragrant oak liquorice, lovely pomelo skins with just that bit of measured decay peat burning notes at the tail. (87/21) P- Booof, this is like mixture of various citrus peels extracts, then filtered out the tart bitterness and leaves you with just alluring scents of fruits. Oily, penetrating with fine sweetness. (91/22) F- Long, shaving huge block of bitter chocolate. Ashy sweet phenol, honey drops rounded with fiery spiciness. (90/22) B/B- 90/22 Weighted Rate- 87pt Cr-1, Fr-3, Fl-0, Pt-1, Ft-2, Sp-0, Wd-1, Wn-1, Sc-3 — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

Fruit juice with Springbank smokiness. This can't come as a surprise, but they really are doing something right in Campbeltown.

Bright, light, spring release.

No water necessary – but equally good when diluted.

Yes, a nice 9 year old dram that is not barrel driven. But the prices have nothing to do with the performance. 81-85 – Wow, really good one

A young local barley that doesn't disappoint!

9LB!

22 + 23 + 22 + 22 = 89 Initially, it was very strong and scalding, very disappointing, and the first testing was completely failed. But! After standing for a couple of days in a half-empty bottle, the molt completely changed and began to ring, exploding in every drop of salty tropics. Yes, he lacks the roundness and fullness as in the textbook 16, but it became devilishly tasty!

Color: Pale Gold Powerful and very good but a little bit too dry.

N20 P20 F20 B20 Young and very lagavulinish(

The whisky is quite simple and uncomplicated, but bright, drinkable, the main player here is the taste, the aroma is weak, the finish is better, but the taste pulls for everyone and pulls well.

You dive straight into the hay, your head in a stack, the extremities tingling your face. Quite dirty hay, which has been left for a long time in a barn that is rarely ventilated. Behind, a dash of vanilla, a very earthy and country peat. A fairly strong iodine, like facing a rough sea, with whipping sea spray. And all of a sudden it becomes very delicious, condensed milk, coconut frosting, Greek yogurt. Custard next to the cattle feeder. And it’s very successful. Milk chocolate, and even white chocolate, whipped cream. The sherry is there to give a little depth, you barely feel it. Straw. The nose on the side of a ruminating cow. Taste candied vanilla, then spices, but these are as if macerated in vanilla, all this is quite syrupy, a treat. Black pepper, nutmeg, sage. Very strong finish, fragmentation pomegranate, it lasts a long time, with touches of vanilla, mirabelle plum, lime. Mint leaf. Quite honestly, this is my favorite thing so far at Springbank. It is a very original whisky, where the markers of the distillery stand out completely, without breaking the harmony of flavors. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2021/04/springbank-2009-local-barley-9-yo.html

Great flavor, subtle nose! Overall, a great Local Barley! 21.5 23 22 21.5

Comparing this to the 10yo 56.2% local barley released in 2019.

Tasted in BTC2019 (Blind)

I find it very different from the standard bottlings from Springbank. Lots of grain and honey, strong start, very pleasant finish. The alcohol is well integrated for me and I don't notice the low age of the whisky.

21.5/22.5/22/22

A wonderful youngster. With some bottle aging, I could easily see this being something they'll trade at auctions a decade or two from now. If you have more than one bottle, keep one and pop it when you retire. [2022 edit] My note didn't age that well, did it, seeing that fools are now selling this to greater fools for silly amounts of money? Oh well, maybe 20 years later I can trade one for a loaf of bread in a post-money foodless perma-scarcity society.

Thanks HK Ling for the dram. A wonderfully naked Springbank, with everything you want from Springbank - minerals, coastal, and light citrus.

S 8 Springbank showing some exceptional cask management here. This is such a gentleman, you can stick your nose however close you want and not much strength is revealed. [86-89] YES!!! One to be tasted and remembered for years. N 27 Bourbon cask-driven. Vanillic, honeycomb (waxy and sweet). Seaside peat that's dirty and refreshing at the same time. More fruit also came through as time goes by. P 27 Sherry cask-driven. Creamy and mouthcoating, what a bomb! First, we get some dried fruit, dates and figs. Then the bourbon vanilla & honey returned. All spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves). Minty aromatic peat underpinned. F 26 Mid finish. Oaky, spicy, lightly smoked dried fruit lingering. Touch of waxy citrusy returning from the wild and extending this to a long, classic Springbank finsih.

Malt, vanilla, black pepper, smoldering charcoal. Young, but complex and very pleasant. 2222'88

peculiar and daring, but not very charismatic

Eye / nose Bright, pale gold. Rather unspectacular. But the nose, which takes me immediately for the malt. Springer is just different. Absolutely typical scent. Here you notice primarily the aromas of Bourbon barrels. Sweet, light honey, freshly ground cereal, but also oysters and fresh crabs. Quite behave also vanilla and freshly baked brioche knots. Again and again, typical jumping notes such as beeswax or sea aromas in the nose. The LB 09 can not deny its (semi-) island origin and apparently does not want it at all. And the alcohol? Although it is anything but intrusive, if you put your nose too deep into the glass, the cask strength counters with power and aromas, which immediately make you think of Springbank's great new make. Respect and patience are undoubtedly rewarded while enjoying. palate The nose is fun, but our hero celebrates the first really big triumph when the malt slowly makes his way towards the palate. The more than voluminous mouthfeel is silky and strong alike. Clear plus. Sensational for such a young malt. The first impression is that of an elegant malt, even if he has to let the 16er predecessor in this category easily precedence. The peat influence is perceived in LB 09 tasted only very subordinate. But the honey from the nose comes back. With ripe yellow plums, or are they juicy nectarines? Class anyway. Smoke and fruit mix with some restrained, slightly oaky notes to a perfectly matched whisky experience. Young and just great, you almost want to say. With the best that I had on 2.5x burned jumpers in this age group so far in the glass. Finish / Conclusion Ah ... there comes the smoke, now much more present than on the tongue. Slightly mineral and now indeed undeniably smoky, the LB comes with plums and sweetish elements. Still strong in the finish, slightly 'strawy' it looks in the finish. The much-touted character of the distillery, often referred to as 'farmy & funky', is beautifully released.

https://www.kaypingers-whiskyblog.de/frontend/fullarticle.php?id=423 Colour: Straw yellow Nose: Rope, mooring rope, cereals, salty spices and spicy fruit aromas carried by lemon, grapefruit and lime. In addition vanilla, butter, a little avocado and green, slightly sour elderberry combined with sweetener. Taste: Very spicy with voluminous salinity. Tart and fruity, sometimes bitter with young wood and lots of fruit from grapefruit, grapefruit and lemon. The quite greenish impression is supplemented by pepper, leather, cardboard and a caramel note. Finish: Long - spicy, fresh and partly slightly tart. Peppermint leaves bring a lot of freshness to the finish. Otherwise fades away with the notes of taste - in the end it becomes a little fruity-sweet again. 87 points N: 89P / G: 86P / F: 86P

In store sample. I’ll be honest, I did not expect to buy the 9 year local barley because the price is getting very high...but Springbank would not be denied. The first thing that struck me was how peated this is. The most peated Springbank I have had I think. Lots of great ashy notes. It’s very fresh with peaches, mandarin orange, very juicy. That classic Springbank minerality, wool, but a great saltiness to really drive it all home. I should just forward my paychecks to Campbeltown. Edit: I’ve had a lot of this stuff now, and I still think it’s very good, but I’m goin to bring it back a point to 88. The nose is just a little sour/lactic for my liking. The rest is great though

Springbank apparently can't do bad whisky :-) Young, although it does not feel clear and juicy, good saturation at all stages. In a word, it is "kaleidoscopic".

Water is mandatory here, even if the first impression is different.

An open and harmonious whisky, inviting at once. Everything is harmonious in him, and for 9 years it is mature enough. Got real pleasure

Whisky Dram, Kyiv 02/19/22

A bold and complex young Springbank. Mineral, coastal, spicy, smoky, fruity. Excellent.

Probably my favourite Local Barley expression sofar. Beats the 11 year old and probably also the 16 year old. Gets better every time! An absolute triumph for being only a 9 year old malt.

Revised my score of initially 87 from a few years back to 89 now after having tried it again recently. Probably needs time and air to reach potential. Great stuff, seems older than it is.

I am a big Springbank fan; but this one I found not meeting the Springbank standard of quality that I am used to. Also he first time that I did not immediately recognized the typical Springbank nose and taste. I guess I need another sample to review it again.

Notes from a blind tasting

good young springbank. Today's prices are absurd in my opinion.

Possible concerns about the young age of this Local Barley bottling successfully and completely eliminated! There is more in the glass here than in many whisky twens. For me as a friend of Bourbon Cask bearings, the combination of 80% ex-bourbon and 20% ex-sherry is almost a dream. In contrast, for me personally, the 12er Springbank CS confidently pack, although the already is great. The barley is to be hoped for as the title of the series and nicely concise, but overall provide oily-maritime and fruity-sweet elements exciting duels, boredom is never from nose to throat - a connoisseur-Malt.

A lot of airing: SB-specific earthy peat and smoke and refresh flavour, apples and peach and apricot juice, soft and popping body, Compared to a similar airing condition, it is more profound and stimulating than the 10 year aging in 2019.

It’s great, of course. A bit all over place though: it swings wildly between being extremely sweet, and being dry and savoury. Lots of Springbank character as you’d expect, but in a bit of a sunnier and, well, younger context. It’s not as funky as Springbank 10, instead doubling down on the malty and tropical-fruit sweetness, with the funk and peat in a more supporting role. All in all, there’s plenty to love here, but it’s not lifechanging if you already like Springbank. Nose: There’s a dose of funk, but overall it’s fresh and summery. Loads of juicy tropical fruit: starfruit, dragonfruit, kiwi, mango, and pineapple. Citron and peach as well. Fresh-cut flowers and hay, fresh-baked bread, roasted almonds, honey, and rich vanilla buttercream frosting. Loads of earthy malted barley. There’s a some savoury too: black olives and seaweed. Just a hint of mild peat, coming across more as a wood-fired oven. There’s some kind of herbal tea in there, but I can’t quite tell what. A dribble of water brought out some fresh navel orange, anise, clove, mint, and grass. Palate: Light texture. Intensely flavourful and sweet on the arrival! Yellow plums, granadilla, barley, and salt. It develops from there into a litany of deep malty notes: toasted sesame seeds, chapati, glazed cinnamon buns, turning into teak, olive oil, ham hocks, camphor, and thyme. A puff of wood smoke in the middle, followed by the warm glow of smoldering peat into the finish. Finish: Sweet and salty. Crystallized pineapple, muscat grapes, basil, olive oil, and honey. Pizza crust and Montreal bagels, from real wood-fired ovens, of course. A lingering hint of salted meat.

Tasted at Sherry Butt, Paris, 06/22. Bottle just opened. To be tasted again later.

A very nice dram that is really "typically atypical" ; well, indeed, it's a Springbank. The rather evident youth on some parts prevents me from going higher but on the other hand, one could wonder how Scotch could get much better than that at that age. Some episodes do show a real complexity.

Sometimes it feels like we're tasting different whiskys with members of the Whiskybase community. Green young and transparent, and at the same time a sharp nose. Spruce (coniferous) astringent and not very pleasant taste. Strong alcohol (again young). The finish is indistinct, something knits the mouth and at the end shows a dirty medical taste of tablets. It seems that this is some kind of port self-made, and not Springbank ... Very dirty and unexpected for me - bad whisky! Nose - 20 Taste - 19 Finish - 20 Balance - 20 Rating - 79

Classic Springbank with a very nice nose N: Fresh. Lemon. Salt. Oily Peat. Vanilla. Continental Hazelnut Chocolate. Apricot. Nuts. Nougat. Sampi On The Beach. Hay Barn. P: Citric. Vanilla. Dirty Peat. Barley Water. Salt. Spice. Pepper. Acidic. White Oak. F: Salt. Peat. Lemon Juice. White Pepper. Medium Dry. Long. Sour.

Introduction: I had 5cl of this single Malts from Campbeltown. I wanted to enjoy the first 2cl without notes and was startled. I did not like him. Much too spritig the malt appeared to me in the first impression. The remaining 3cl I went on another day more concentrated and read the time for a long time in the glass. I also took water to help the Malt not to be wronged. First impression / color / viscosity: Mustard glaring malt in my 5cl sample bottle back and forth. When pouring into my glass well-meaning impressions flow into my nose. Narrow windows develop on the glass wall. The whisky collects and the last drops slowly run down the glass. Aroma / Nose feeling: Strong mineral impressions. A bag full of cereal in which you put your nose. A slightly distant sea breeze mingles with lovely vanilla. Unfortunately I feel the alcohol as very young and metallic. So I'm not happy to be reminded of New Make at a malt - but unfortunately this is the case here. Over time, I discover fresh lemon zest, clearly sweet honey and a pleasant Pfeffrigkeit. Slightly musty flower beds and an oily impression line up. The young alcohol is now much less disturbing and fruits are more visible. I think blueberry and elderberry, but also some sweet / bitter orange. The aroma described in a few words: Sparkling, fruity, sweet with a hint of sea air. Taste / mouthfeel: Approximately 57% Vol. Can not smile away. You do not need water to make the malt drinkable, but it does have a decent start. Enormous sweetness, followed by some saltiness and the seasoning on tap. The first impressions I like - but not overwhelming. Above all, it is the grain that stays in my memory. Besides some vanilla and pebbles and a bitter transition to the finish. Finish / aftertaste / Length: Lots of spices, salt and minerals. The medium-long finish is a bit bitter and again shows a slight tendency to youth, which I really had not noticed in the taste. The scotch is a bit bitter and slightly sour. Sourdough and above all yeast, as well as some green vegetables, parsley and subtle smoke form the conclusion for me. Conclusion: I have not been so torn between positive and more negative impressions for a long time. The aroma is complex - no question. However, I do not like the flavors that seem too young to me. After my tasting, I read Notes, which described just this as an advantage. I can not agree with that. I am also nobody who would describe New Make as good or as pleasure. I taste it to learn, to experience, but that's about it. In my Single Malt (at least nine years old), I do not want to be reminded of Obstler, Korn or whatever. Apart from these flavors, which I dislike, I like the nose quite well. The taste, as well as the finish are not highlights for me, but certainly pleasant to drink. Something simple, but good. I once had a 7yo Caol Ila of a UA, which I was reminded by this jumper the whole time. He was very nice at that time, but also a bit too young, too little stock. This got from me at that time 83/100. The Local Barley 9yo gets today ... Points: 84/100

For me the best bottling of the new Local Barley series: full acceleration and lots of power.

Very interesting whisky, undoubtedly great in finish - the sweetness and intensity gets me. Awesome thing. Already in the smell there is sweetness, but such a true, honest. The sweetness is not overblown. Actually, that's what this whisky is all about. Taste is also on this wave. The whole thing is well coordinated, all components nicely balanced. I would definitely buy a bottle, but unfortunately it is almost impossible to get a reasonable price.

This is exactly how I like my young Springbank!

Very sweet and complex Even with lots of breeding it still has alcohol and spciyness but vrey good Prefer 2019 10 better

Color: Light straw. Nose: Slightly closed. Ahead of them are malt, flowers (like clover), honey, vanilla, dry branches, mustard. In the background, wine tones are clearly visible - dried fruits, a little damp earth. Taste: Sweetened. Bread, black pepper, peanut butter. Finish: Long, spicy. In general, it repeats the taste and aroma without obvious off-notes. Conclusion: Nice, rounded whisky.

Nose: lemon, kamquat, glue, dried fruit Palate: salt, peanut butter, glue, green pepper, orange Body: light, dry and chalky, pooralcohol integration Finish: short, Talisker like I peasonally don't get the special charm in it. And in my humble opinion people really shoul despise Springbank for degrading this classic series into a 7yo-10yo white dog show. And I wish WB and some big names in the industry to give at least any positive guidance to this market, that's all.

Another good expression from the special releases, however very similar to detect any significant differences between them. I prefer the 10year old @56.2 over this neat.

New era of local barley

ripe grain spirit nose sherry motif. Taste sweet grain punching board varnish malt yeast. Average finish. Good

Color: Mellow Gold. Nose: Classic primarily-bourbon Springbank minerality is the first thing that jumps out about this one. Despite a rather hefty bottling strength, there isn't a ton of heat coming off the nose. In fact, to be honest, the nose is a bit shy. Pleasant but somewhat austere. Water doesn't do much here, perhaps just further emphasizing the mineral notes. Mouth: Great mouthfeel that is so typical, in my experience, of Springbank. There's a big oomph to this malt on the palate that isn't present on the nose. As usual, it's a characterful malt. Undiluted, the alcohol is a bit strong, but not poorly integrated. With water, it's very nice: fresh fruit, spice, malt. Interestingly, what I don't get is a ton of smoke or peat, which others have commented about in this iteration of the Local Barley series. Finish: Big, lasting. Comments: I've had the first bottling in this series, the 16 yo, and this one. I probably slightly prefer that one, but this is close. Both bottlings are triumphs. If anything, it's easier to be impressed by this one given how much quality there is in a sub-10 yo.

Lemon caramels, honey, flower pollen

slightly smoked fruity sherry

I do not want to conceal the fact that I am a little positively biased on the subject of "Springbank", nevertheless I strive for a neutral assessment: First of all, everything I like about a jump bench: fruitiness, subtle smoke, power. The young lad, however, pushes himself with a neat alcohol flag a little rowdy forward and is brought by me with a splash of water in short to reason. Of course, I immediately noticed the native barley and a quick glance at the sample label helped me to confirm. Dangerously tasty and absolutely "Zwolle" -compatible the drop. I feel the potential, similar to a Glen Grant, to produce something extraordinarily beautiful during a long maturing period. If you had given him a little more of that time, my personal verdict would certainly be even higher than respectable 88 points.

This is one of those bottles that epitomises the best Scotch whisky has to offer and shows why Scotch is the best damn spirit out there hands down. Give it enough time and ullage to peak and then... Awesome stuff! Paltry nose, but that's ok, this is all palate. Loads of character with diesel smoke, wet wool, coastal minerality (a chalky, limestone feeling). Then you've got the most beautiful sweet and sour citrus peels I've ever tasted in a Scotch. Also some heavier sour, juicy purple plums. Forget the dogma about older whiskies being better, man I've tried some legendary older bottles and this stuff tops some of them hands down - and at least matches the others. Whisky as young as 9 years can be as good as it gets if enough care is taken to produce the highest quality material. I'll challenge anyone on that, don't care who you are man. This is sadly a rarity. Really young whisky that beats the crap out of many much older and much more expensive stuff out there. Seriously, this is bloody brilliant stuff from Springbank. Damn, they know what they're doing!!!

I really like this. It shows well integrated ex-bourbon characteristics (vanilla, caramel, toast) & peat characteristics that are pleasant and not overwhelming. The alcohol is well integrated on the palate and the spirit has good complexity and length as well. Really good - but maybe a bit understated. Score is 89.5 - rounded up out of indulgence.

A smashing dram. Smoother than I expected, with a hint of sweetness and fresh seaweed that is typical of springbank. A fine maritime dram. So glad I picked up 2 of them at the time.

Typical young springbank. I get a faint nuance of sherry cask expressions but the else are mostly bourbon casks. Campbeltown funk reveal its presence giving more complexity to the nose and palate. I know that many people are critical of Local Barley series because the secondary price is ridiculously . However, to my personal taste, with this level of quality, I think it's not a bad choice even if I pay the secondary price.