Springbank 10 vs Talisker 10: Discover the Better!

Discover the differences between Springbank 10 vs Talisker 10 in this head to head comparison and decide which Whisky is better for You!

Springbank 10

• Nose: Oak, baking spice, ripe fruit, honey, smoke.
• Palate: Malt, citrus, berries, brine, marzipan.
• Finish: Smoke, toasted barley, caramel.

There is oak on the nose, followed by hints of baking spice, ripe fruit, honey and just a subtle touch of smoke.

On the palate, the Springbank feels creamy and full bodied. Flavor provides malt and citrus up-front, followed by berries, brine and marzipan.

There is a pleasant smoky note on the finish, full of toasted barley and caramel.

This is a smooth and satisfying whisky, with a subtle amount of smoke making it an easy drinker when compared to Islay whiskies, but more complex and interesting than the typical Speyside Whisky.

Springbank is a Campbeltown Scotch, once a major producer of Whisky with as many as 30 functioning distilleries. Unfortunately, most of the distilleries have gone out of business with only 3 remaining.

Springbank dates back to 1828 and is still a family-owned business. The entire production is handled on site including floor malting the barley, aging, and bottling making it unique in Scotland.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Springbank 10:

• Bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV).

• Aged for 10 years using a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

• Springbank dries the malted barley with just 6 hours of peat smoke and 30 hours of hot air.

• Distilled 2.5 times.

• Springbank is completely legit as it does not use caramel-coloring.

• This is a non chill-filtered whisky.

Talisker 10

• Nose: Smoke, pear and apple.
• Palate: Smoke, dried fruit, mineral notes, cereal, pepper.
• Finish: Long and pleasantly peppery

There is a fair amount of smoke on the nose at first, followed by hints of pear, apple and a bit of iodine.

On the palate, the Talisker 10 displays a creamy texture. Flavor offers a moderate hit of smoke at first, that quickly mellows out into rich dried fruit sweetness, with hints of cereal, black pepper and a mineral note.

The finish is long, with a satisfying warming peppery note and mineral finish with a bit of oak spice and caramel.

Adding a dash of water tunes-down the pepper, while releasing sweet notes, making it easier to sip.

Talisker 10 is a creamy and full flavored whisky. This is a peaty whisky but not as heavy as some of the Islay malts as it does not overpowers other flavors.

Talisker strikes a nice balance between smoke, salinity, peppery notes and honey-like sweetness.

Overall, Talisker 10 is not an entry-level single malt but it makes a solid option for true whisky aficionados that like peat in moderate amounts in their drams.

Learn how it compares to the Ardbeg 10!

There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky:

• Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV).

• Aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

• Was rated Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast.

• Awarded with 94 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2013.

• Rated the “Editor’s Choice” by Whisky Magazine.

• Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.

• Talisker is an Island Whisky crafted in the Isle of Skye since 1830; founded by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill.

• This brand is also owned by Diageo and is a major contributor to the Black Label blend.

Springbank 10 vs Talisker 10: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Springbank 10	$76
Talisker 10	$75

Springbank 10 vs Talisker 10: Which is better?

Springbank is an easier drinker than Talisker 10

Whiskey	Springbank 10	Talisker 10
Nose	✅	✅
Body	✅	✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value

• Neither the Springbank nor the Talisker as heavy on the smoke as the monsters from Islay, yet the Sprinbank is lighter on the smoke, while the Talisker it’s halfway there.

• The Sprinbank has some positives over the Talisker 10 such as being artificial colorant free and non chill-filtered making a better option for those who care about those issues.

• Talisker 10 is tasty and smooth, nicely balanced with sweet caramel notes, rich minerality and smoke providing an enjoyable experience.