Country: Scotland
Region: Campbeltown
Brand: Longrow Peated
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (My Guess: 5-10 Years)
ABV: 46 %
Date: 29/07/2013
Colour: Golden Hay
Nose: To be honest I was expecting massive aggressive Peat but that's not the case. Sure, the Peat is there but it's in the company of Vanilla, Leather, Mineral and Maritime tones, Ashes, Malt, Oak, Menthol, Citrus, Buttered Toast, Pepper and hints of Salted Bacon, Plastic/Rubber and Sulphur.
Palate: Slightly Thinner than I expected with Sweet Peat, Black Pepper, Ashes, Iodine, Soot, Malt, Oak, Honey, Black Coffee, Caramel, Mint, Lemon and a light sprinkle of Salt.
Finish: Quite Long and for me the best part of this Longrow. Sugary Sweet at first but Dry towards the end. It's a combination of Sweet Barley, Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tobacco, Oak, Black Coffee, Vanilla, Black Pepper, Mint, Iodine and a hint of Plastic.
I added a bit of Water and the Nose becomes more Malty and slightly less Peaty. On the Palate it really gets Sugary Sweet and the Plastic and Mint rule the Finish. Better sip it neat!
Rating: 85
Nose: 21 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 21.5
General Remarks: The Longrow peated Single Malt is produced at the Springbank Distillery. In 1973, Springbank started a project that would try to produce a peated Islay type of whisky on the Scottish mainland. The name of the project was Longrow, named after the old Longrow distillery that was located close to Springbank. In 1990 the first peated Longrow appeared on the market. It is the successor of the Longrow CV. It is distilled twice and the Barley is dried with Peat Smoke for around 48 hours. Casks of different origin are used to mature this whisky. It is not chill-filtered and no Caramel is added. It is priced roughly between 50 and 70 US Dollars.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: It's not a bad Single Malt but I find it lacking Fruit. I think this Longrow might benefit if more Ex-Sherry Casks would be used. Or would receive a Sherry or Wine Finishing. I liked the 11 Years Red Cabernet Sauvignon finished Longrow. I'm not too fond of the Plastic off note as well. I don't think it matches the Islay peated whiskies. There are not enough Maritime, Beefy, BBQ and Campfire notes to be found. And without them and without sufficient Fruit or Sherry to counter the Peat, this Longrow somehow tastes " Unfinished".