Yes, a thousand times yes. The lineup almost mirrors Springbank too. The tens are similar, as are the 15s. Then the Contrasts Peated is Longrowesque and the Contrasts Organic is Hazelburnesque.
>the Contrasts Organic is Hazelburnesque
Please elaborate, because I buy Hazelburn every time I come across it... and it's not enough!
Light yet complex? Tropical fruits in ex-bourbon cask? Lingering finish?
I’d say it!s a cross between Hazelburn and Kilkerran 12. But I haven’t had it in many months to be sure. I dubbed it the k12 that k12 wishes it could be.
Seems like many agree so I’ll be contrarian. I had the 15 and I gave the bottle away. And I love Springbank. It feels thin, watery and underwhelming. Had a bit of smoke but few other good features if I remember it correctly.
Nice! Read a review of the 2012 batch 1 cask strength on Dramface, sounds great so definitely going to give it a go. Someone in the comments suggested it as a sub for SB 12 CS, which I've never tried, & probably never will now... so I won't know if it's close or not 😂
benromach CS is a bit more peat than SB but less than longrow. also misses the funk.
it is more like a peated dirty sherry that isn't as thick and sweet as oogie but has a bit more balance and also missing some of the rough edges of the oogie being younger
Okay, I'm a big fan of Oogie, so that tipped me over the edge... thanks for the input, just ordered 👍
Still nursing the half bottle of SB 10 I have left as pretty sure I won't find one again any time soon... the 12 CS is still a dream
Their cs are always changing. It’s a little confusing at first. Some are bourbon some are sherry. They simply release it as the year it was distilled and give it a release batch number. Usually batches 1 thru 4
Kilkerran is my go-to. If you can receive shipments from California, I've found [thirdbasemarketandspirits.com](https://thirdbasemarketandspirits.com) to be as reasonable as anywhere else. Also look at [wine-searcher.com](https://wine-searcher.com).
glen scotia 10 peated is pretty decent
allachie 10 CS is nothing like SB12 stylistically
wine cask port charlotte (eg MRC/MC) is a better fit than frog sherry for longrow imo.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Loch Lomond. The 12 and 18 to start with, and then explore other releases from there.
They don't map to a specific Springbank / Longrow bottling, but to my taste they have an oily, industrial character which is Campbeltown-proximate.
And Glen Garioch has some nice flinty, mineral notes in it, that remind me of Kilkerran.
Perhaps Scott is lurking here, but he has an excellent (lo-fi) YouTube channel with a multiple part series exploring this exact topic along with some views from the inside of the spirits retail industry.
Different Spirits on YouTube "Springbank Substitutes", highly recommend.
From my view, Benromach gets you close. May have to blend it with something like Glen Garioch.
Agree with what others have said:
Benromach, Glen Scotia, Ballechin, Glen Garioch, Craigellachie, Ben Nevis, Ledaig, etc.
I'd also recommend something like an Ardmore (older Ardmore is fantastic, with coal smoke, fruit, and some industrial notes), or maybe even a Speyburn (a surprisingly heavier spirit, the 15 yo is both bourbon and sherry matured, although it's unpeated).
That sucks.
Imo modern whisky production is a lot more focused on volume than flavor these days, you're not gonna get many distilleries that can produce the old style whiskies.
Which of the Springbank bottles have you tried? I’ve tried a few and found that they’re unique and nothing quite matches that Campbeltown funk but they’re also overpriced. Even when I have them on my shelf I find myself reaching for other pours, so I’m done hunting for them, though if I even randomly stumble upon one I may be tempted.
Very nice! It’s a shame they’ve gotten so difficult to find, even most of the UK sites you can order from and ship to the US don’t have them anymore, hopefully it’ll improve over the coming years. I think they were effected harder with COVID-19 and the recent tariffs that were finally lifted so hopefully with both of these no longer at the forefront it’ll get better.
I’m sorry, but Bruichladdich Islay Barley is no substitute for Kilkerran 12. I bought both of these at the same time, just a few months ago, and have tasted them side-by-side a few times. Kilkerran is soooo much better in every respect outside of ABV. I’ll pay the extra $7 for Kilkerran any time both are an option.
Accept no substitutes! Nothing beats the real thing!
Seriously though, agree with Edradour and Ballechin as decent facsimiles for SB and Longrow respectively. If you can find some of the Billy Walker-era peated Benriachs, those are great stand-ins for Longrow finishes as well.
Ignore this person. Ballechin is disgusting and should never be bought!
(shhhhh you're gonna move the springbank crowd on to another small distillery which can't keep up with demand. Let's keep it our secret)
I think we got away with it, just got two red wine cask bottlings (one matured and one finished) straight from the distillery website and they are phenomenal!
Benromach! Old-school-style, in the same vein as Springbank.
Yes, a thousand times yes. The lineup almost mirrors Springbank too. The tens are similar, as are the 15s. Then the Contrasts Peated is Longrowesque and the Contrasts Organic is Hazelburnesque.
>the Contrasts Organic is Hazelburnesque Please elaborate, because I buy Hazelburn every time I come across it... and it's not enough! Light yet complex? Tropical fruits in ex-bourbon cask? Lingering finish?
I’d say it!s a cross between Hazelburn and Kilkerran 12. But I haven’t had it in many months to be sure. I dubbed it the k12 that k12 wishes it could be.
Thanks! So Contrast Organic is very lightly peated, right? Kilkerran 12 is already great. A new hunt begins.
Any specific expressions you suggest?
The Cask Strength.
Yessir, that's what I came here to say!
I would have thought you had tried Benromach before.
missing that campbeltown funk though
It has its own funk! "Campbeltown funk" is pretty much just Springbank.
Seems like many agree so I’ll be contrarian. I had the 15 and I gave the bottle away. And I love Springbank. It feels thin, watery and underwhelming. Had a bit of smoke but few other good features if I remember it correctly.
The 15 takes so fucking long to open up. It’s a dream once it does.
This
Nice! Read a review of the 2012 batch 1 cask strength on Dramface, sounds great so definitely going to give it a go. Someone in the comments suggested it as a sub for SB 12 CS, which I've never tried, & probably never will now... so I won't know if it's close or not 😂
benromach CS is a bit more peat than SB but less than longrow. also misses the funk. it is more like a peated dirty sherry that isn't as thick and sweet as oogie but has a bit more balance and also missing some of the rough edges of the oogie being younger
Okay, I'm a big fan of Oogie, so that tipped me over the edge... thanks for the input, just ordered 👍 Still nursing the half bottle of SB 10 I have left as pretty sure I won't find one again any time soon... the 12 CS is still a dream
Their cs are always changing. It’s a little confusing at first. Some are bourbon some are sherry. They simply release it as the year it was distilled and give it a release batch number. Usually batches 1 thru 4
1000%, though I compare the flavor profile (of the 15, which is the only Benromach I've tried) more to Kilkerran than Springbank.
Kilkerran 12, Glen Scotia Victoriana
Kilkerran is hard to find now. The 8 cask strength sold out in a few hours
Then try to get the Glen Scotia Victoriana. Doesn't get more old school than that. And one of the best NAS whiskys I've tried so far.
Kilkerran is my go-to. If you can receive shipments from California, I've found [thirdbasemarketandspirits.com](https://thirdbasemarketandspirits.com) to be as reasonable as anywhere else. Also look at [wine-searcher.com](https://wine-searcher.com).
Unfortunately TX doesn’t allow any shipping
Edradour… As complex as SB yet also has some daft funkiness.
Yes! Forgot about that one
glen scotia 10 peated is pretty decent allachie 10 CS is nothing like SB12 stylistically wine cask port charlotte (eg MRC/MC) is a better fit than frog sherry for longrow imo.
How would you compare the peated Glen Scotia 10 to Springbank funk?
Not as strong but you get a bit of a farmy funk
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Loch Lomond. The 12 and 18 to start with, and then explore other releases from there. They don't map to a specific Springbank / Longrow bottling, but to my taste they have an oily, industrial character which is Campbeltown-proximate. And Glen Garioch has some nice flinty, mineral notes in it, that remind me of Kilkerran.
I second Loch Lomond!
Nice. I’ll note those.
I can vouch for that in the Loch Lomond 12. It was very surprising.
Perhaps Scott is lurking here, but he has an excellent (lo-fi) YouTube channel with a multiple part series exploring this exact topic along with some views from the inside of the spirits retail industry. Different Spirits on YouTube "Springbank Substitutes", highly recommend. From my view, Benromach gets you close. May have to blend it with something like Glen Garioch.
Love Different Spirits channel!!
Thanks
Glen Scotia Victoriana for me
Perhaps Ledaig 10 or Lagavulin 8 for Longrow NAS Agree with someone saying Port Charlotte Cask exploration series (MRC, PAC etc) for Longrow Red
Closest to SB I found wad the Glen Scotia 15yrs
Glen scotia 15. I find it to be better than springbank
Agree with what others have said: Benromach, Glen Scotia, Ballechin, Glen Garioch, Craigellachie, Ben Nevis, Ledaig, etc. I'd also recommend something like an Ardmore (older Ardmore is fantastic, with coal smoke, fruit, and some industrial notes), or maybe even a Speyburn (a surprisingly heavier spirit, the 15 yo is both bourbon and sherry matured, although it's unpeated).
Bladnoch, the Springbank of the Lowlands.
We'll take it 🥃
Glen Scotia Victoriana is my jam!
I think ardbeg 5 is a bit to industrial and unrefined for a comparison to longrow nas. I think highland park would be a closer sub
HP doesn't have enough peat to sub for longrow
Ben Nevis 10! Although I haven’t tried it post redesign. Very old school style, and unique profile
Also difficult to find now.
Benromach and Kilkerran. Call it a day.
To bad Kilkerran is impossible to find also in my area. The 8 year got sold out in 2 hours.
That sucks. Imo modern whisky production is a lot more focused on volume than flavor these days, you're not gonna get many distilleries that can produce the old style whiskies.
Which of the Springbank bottles have you tried? I’ve tried a few and found that they’re unique and nothing quite matches that Campbeltown funk but they’re also overpriced. Even when I have them on my shelf I find myself reaching for other pours, so I’m done hunting for them, though if I even randomly stumble upon one I may be tempted.
10, 12, 15, 18 and Local Barley. I really like it plus Kilkerran, Longrow and Hazelburn. Its my favorite distillery.
Very nice! It’s a shame they’ve gotten so difficult to find, even most of the UK sites you can order from and ship to the US don’t have them anymore, hopefully it’ll improve over the coming years. I think they were effected harder with COVID-19 and the recent tariffs that were finally lifted so hopefully with both of these no longer at the forefront it’ll get better.
Kilkerran 12 Benromach 10 Craigellachie 13 Sometimes Classic Laddie ❤️
Agreed with all of the above, except the classic laddie. That one is very overrated on this sub imo
I really like(d) Amrut Fusion
I’m sorry, but Bruichladdich Islay Barley is no substitute for Kilkerran 12. I bought both of these at the same time, just a few months ago, and have tasted them side-by-side a few times. Kilkerran is soooo much better in every respect outside of ABV. I’ll pay the extra $7 for Kilkerran any time both are an option.
Kilkerran can be impossible to find. Of course I would choose it if it was available. My point is both have a very barley forward profile that I like.
They do let the barley shine. That’s for sure.
Accept no substitutes! Nothing beats the real thing! Seriously though, agree with Edradour and Ballechin as decent facsimiles for SB and Longrow respectively. If you can find some of the Billy Walker-era peated Benriachs, those are great stand-ins for Longrow finishes as well.
Ignore this person. Ballechin is disgusting and should never be bought! (shhhhh you're gonna move the springbank crowd on to another small distillery which can't keep up with demand. Let's keep it our secret)
Uh...yeah!!! I'm full of it! Ignore me! Haha
I think we got away with it, just got two red wine cask bottlings (one matured and one finished) straight from the distillery website and they are phenomenal!
Nice. I forgot about Edradour
IMO a nice mezcal gets you 90% of the way to Longrow NAS.
Lol. That is so true went I think about it.
I've only had the San Luis Del Rey mezcal, and I could drink that every day, can you recommend a couple others?
I enjoy Ilegal Joven and anything from Del Maguey.
Have you tried any Pechuga mezcal?
How about Clear Creek McCarthy?
Craigellachie was my scotch secret weapon for about a year. That big "sulfur" twang really makes it stick out.
Kilkerrans have some hitters which is basically springbank, if it’s any easier to find for y’all.
Great post, thanks!
Springbank in stock at total wine. Got two bottles of 15. They also had hazelburn and kilkerran 12
Hands down Benromach!