Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon Wood vs Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon WoodSpringbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo
DistillerySpringbankSpringbank
RegionCampbeltownCampbeltown
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV55.8%54.7%
Age14 yr9 yr
Price£599£399
Rating5.00/5

Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon Wood

Smoke64/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner25/100
Value0/100

Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo

Smoke0/100
Sweetness48/100
Beginner45/100
Value13/100

Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon Wood

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo is better value at £399 vs £599.

For beginners: Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon Wood

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Longer maturation (14 vs 9 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (55.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£599 vs £399)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£399 vs £599)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (54.7%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Springbank?

Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon Wood is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Who should buy Springbank?

Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Toasted

Only Springbank 14 Year Old 2002 - Bourbon Wood

VanillaMalt ExtractHoneySmokey

Only Springbank 9 Year Old 2004 - Gaja Barolo

Cooked FruitSherriedDried Fruit

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