Longrow 18 (2022 Release) - 46%
From the distillery website
This fully Sherry matured release of the Longrow 18 Year Old combines sweet, honey notes with an earthy peat influence reminiscent of dunnage warehouses.
Unusually, the malted barley was allowed to sit in peat smoke for 2 full days, following distillation the spirit was allowed to mature in sherry casks for the whole 18 years.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Amber gold, clings to the glass before falling as thick, oily legs.
Nose: Sweet peat smoke, barbecued meats, coastal sea breeze and a touch of dunnage warehouses.
Palate: Soft, luxurious and oily mouthfeel. California raisins, sultanas, honeycomb toffee, Werther's Originals, orange peel, seaside saltiness and soft, ashy smoke.
Finish: Damp dunnage floor earth, tobacco leaf, maritime salt, dried fruit and candied peel, cinnamon adds warmth.
Summary: A whisky with a beautiful mouthfeel, sweet richness and overall balance, there's plenty going on but it all works in perfect harmony. The sherry casks have certainly made their mark without becoming too dominant, the slightly ashy smoke is more subtle than expected and adds another layer of flavour whilst the dunnage earthiness and mild brine give a strong nod to its Campbeltown origins.
Simply put, this is a really good Longrow whisky. Possibly a little less complex than previous year's releases but it makes up for it in other ways. As with all whiskies from Springbank at the the moment, availability is the biggest issue. As far as price goes, if you can find one at retail price then it's on a par with several other 18 year old whiskies of similar quality.
For me, this was the star of the show from a very strong lineup and I was impressed enough to push my budget out a little, paying £120 by ballot. More than usual for me, but in this case worth every penny.
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.
