Longrow Red 11yo 2022 Release - 57.5%

From the distillery

Our Longrow Red is a limited annual release bottled at cask strength. Each year a different type of red wine cask is used to mature the whisky, with the latest release spending seven years in Bourbon casks followed by four years in Tawny Port casks.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Auburn colour, forms a thin line which beads before falling as thick, oily legs.

Nose: Coastal sea breeze and beach bonfires mingle with nutty oak, red berries and dunnage warehouse floors.

Palate: Honey glazed barbecued meats, red berries, ginger snap biscuits, vanilla pods, orange peel, salted nuts and soft, dry smoke.

Finish: Peat smoke gradually comes to the fore, together with salted almonds and hazelnuts, red fruit with creamy vanilla custard, dunnage and black pepper warmth.

Summary: The combination of peat and Port has produced some of my favourite whiskies over the years, so it’s no surprise I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this one. 

The saltiness immediately reminds you of it’s coastal heritage, whilst the characteristic Campbeltown oiliness, ‘funky’ dunnage note and peat smoke leaves you in no doubt this is a Longrow. The smoke itself is well integrated and doesn’t really play a starring role until the finish.

Add the red fruit from the Tawny Port casks and you have a delightful, well balanced whisky with more than enough complexity to keep the palate interested. It’s not the greatest Port-finished peated whisky I’ve ever had, or even the greatest Longrow, but it’s certainly very enjoyable.

If you would like to know more about Springbank and their whiskies, follow the link to the company website.

Transparency: This sample was part of a 6 dram sample set, purchased from The Spirits Embassy. No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.