It's a bit late in the game, but I forgot to post it earlier this year. This post is about the Top 10 Whiskies I tried over the course of 2021. It is all about when I took the notes, not when the whiskies were released, and they are in no particular order.
Without peat, whisky would be a mistake.
Showing posts with label Longrow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Longrow. Show all posts
19 July 2022
06 September 2021
Longrow 18 2020
Longrow 18 (2020), Campbeltown Single Malt, 46% ABV
Minutia: Matured in 25% bourbon, 20% rum, and 55% Sherry casks for 18 years and bottled on August 12, 2020 yielding a batch of 4,300 bottles. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Color: Burnished; 1.1.
Nose: Pleasant smoke, a humid but dusty storage area, toffee/caramel, Russian rye. There’s really a lot going on here, and those are the only notes I can put to words.
Taste: Fruit gives way to cardboard, to bitter chocolate and back again.
Finish: Sweet, metallic, slight smoke with medicinal touch, sweet citrus. A bit of bitterness. An overall ‘mechanical’ feel.
Man, a real treat. Nothing wrong in the mouth, but the nose is just more interesting. This is a dram you could have over a course of an entire evening and barely take a sip. It’s complex, but there’s a subtlety to the complexity that is quite nice. There’s an overall sweeter tone to each of the elements noted above that don’t intrinsically sound sweet, I suspect this is the rum influence. This distillery continues to impress, and this is no exception. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the 2018 release, but I did enjoy it quite a lot.
Score: 90
Musical Evocation: Beast in Black – “Blind and Frozen”
25 December 2020
Top 10 Whiskies of 2020
This post is about the Top 10 Whiskies I tried over the course of 2020. It is all about when I took the notes, not when the whiskies were released, and they are in no particular order.
30 November 2020
Longrow Red 13 Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
When I learned how much I like Springbank and how much peat and wine casks seem to work for me, my discovery of this line had me eager to try it. I got my hands on a bottle as soon as I could manage and have now finally done my review.
Minutia: After maturing for 10 years in Bourbon and Sherry casks, it was transferred and spent an additional 3 years in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels sourced from MontGras’ Intriga Estate in Alto Maipo, at the foot of the Andes in Chile. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Color: Mahogany, 1.6.
Nose: Fruit, musty sweet smoke.
Taste: Dry, smoky wine. Some spice.
Finish: Smoke, wood, spice ramped up. Fades into a dry, fruity linger. Long.
The finish is real nice and takes this to the next level for me. Before the dram when I really concentrated on taking notes, I didn’t exactly get a very winey feel from this, but when focusing it did feel a lot like a wine. It was a clear wine facade over that excellent Longrow foundation, rich, smoky, and earthy. It feels like the funk and cask influence combined to give it a dry wine feeling. Very nice, and really looking forward to trying more of the Red released.
Score: 88
Musical Evocation: Avril Lavigne – "My Happy Ending"
14 October 2020
Longrow 21
I was really looking forward to this after Longrow 18 became probably my favorite expression that sees (at least somewhat) regular release. A few more years has to be good, too, right?
Minutia: This particular batch consists of 60% Sherry casks and 40% Bourbon casks. Bottled October 2, 2019. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Color: Russet Muscat, 1.3.
Nose: This is like putting your nose in the glass when pouring it, something the 18 did as well. Fruity, bit of smoke, mineral/salt. It’s a pleasure just nosing this.
Taste: Very strong strawberry immediately, then smoke, then spice, then all together.
Finish: Dry, smoky, menthol feeling. Gets”dirty”.
This is really nice, I wish I had a bottle. I did like the 18 a bit more, though. The finish was strong but the weakest part of it, just speaks to how good the nose and taste are.
Score: 91
20 July 2020
Longrow 18
I enjoyed the NAS Longrow and Springbank 10 a lot, and had seen reviews of the 18 that got me very eager to try it. When I found a bottle online when I was placing an order it was a no brainer. This was one of the bottles that took a lot of self-control to not open right away and keep my collection of open bottles manageable.
Minutia: Matured for 18 years, this batch bottled in 2018 comprised of 60% ex-Sherry casks and 40% ex-Bourbon casks. Stamped on the bottle are 23/03/18 and 18/141. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Color: Tawny, 1.4.
Nose: Light, sweet smoke. Caramel/brown sugar. Pebbles.
Taste: Salt, smoke, cinnamon, Campbeltown malt. Tropical fruit, namely kiwi.
Finish: Long. Salty, funkish smoke (less so than other Campbeltowns I’ve had). It's more like the palate got smoked.
This did not disappoint, even with high expectations. I tried this not too long after Ardbeg Alligator which kind of floored me. This made just about if not the same first impression on me. Right away there’s a delightful smokiness and all the other elements compliment that very well. I’ll be hanging onto this for a while, probably saving it mostly to share a dram with others who really enjoy whisky. The difference between this and other expressions from Springbank is much wider than the difference in price. This is well worth the premium for the significant age statement. I have become quite the fan of Campbeltown lately, and while I still love Islays, malts from there have really allowed me to appreciate a wider range of aromas and flavors in whiskies.
Score: 94
Musical Evocation: Draconian – “Stellar Tombs”
26 December 2019
Longrow Peated
The folks at Cadenhead’s recommended this to a buddy while he was traveling in Scotland, and knowing I like Scotch he graciously invited me over for some, so thanks to him for this sample. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to try a Campbeltown malt, so I was glad to get this introduction.
Minutia: Matured in ex-Bourbon casks. Enjoyed neat in a tiny glencairn.
Color: Pale.
Nose: Funk, like Bruichladdich has, smoke, ultimately like a smoked cheese. Shoe polish. Heavy smells with a light quality.
Taste: Smoke, dirt, wood, vanilla extract, pepper.
Finish: Medium, subtle smoke, brine comes in.
The nose is the best part of this, but that isn’t a slight against the taste. I am intrigued to try other expressions from Longrow as well as the other Campbeltown distilleries (though I’ve been interested in Kilkerran for quite a while).
Score: 84
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