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?

Longrow 21, Campbeltown Single Malt, 46% ABV

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

Springbank 24 Sherry Single Cask

I was placing an order when this sample happened to be in stock so I ordered one. I quite enjoyed the 10, but found it a bit hard to come around on the 12 Cask Strength (the batch I had, anyway). Still, I was very excited for this and finally had some time to sit down with it.

Springbank 24 Sherry Single Cask, Campbeltown Single Malt, 46.2% ABV

Minutia: I’m not sure if this is cask strength as the label doesn’t seem to say that, but with an outturn of 294 bottles it doesn’t really seem like they stretched out the spirit with water. Also, the .2% difference relative to their usual is odd. It is a single cask, however, and that cask was a Sherry hogshead. It spent 24 years in that cask after distillation in December 1994 and was bottled in April 2019. The sample was expensive for a sample and the bottle quite expensive, even for a single cask. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Mahogany, 1.6.

Nose: Wow, rich, deep, winey aroma, a bit smoky, strawberry, honey.

Taste: Thick, classic Springbank, very ramped up fruit quality.

Finish: Ashy Springbank malt, dry, long. It’s a finish that makes you unsure of whether to have another sip because you either can’t wait to have more or don’t want to interrupt the finish.

Absolutely delightful. This reminded of the 12 minus whatever stopped me from adoring it. This might have actually been worth the high price (depending on what it was sold for). The only price I’ve seen recently is for just shy of $1,000, which is insane, but it is good enough where I can see someone thinking it’s practical and listing it for that. I’m sad this is gone.

Score: 93

Musical Evocation: Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson - "Ég á líf"

Old Pulteney 12

When I took a break from peat to let my palate re-normalize I looked for whiskies without peat that might fall in a style I like. This being known for its maritime qualities I found a bottle to give it a try.

Old Pulteney 12, Highland Single Malt, 43% ABV

Minutia: Matured in ex-Bourbon casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry, 1.2.

Nose: Bright, citrusy malt. Hops, more like a hopped cider than a beer.

Taste: Malt, honey/nutty, salt/spice.

Finish: Intense followed quickly by a drop. Salty, malty, nutty after a bit. Dances around those with a hoppy floor. Long.

I liked this enough where I didn’t miss the peat, but it had been a while since I hadn’t so it was kind of longing for it. I won’t be keeping this in my collection, but it’s good to know of another dram I’d enjoy if a bar had this but lacked something smoky.

Score: 80

Redbreast 15

During my break from peat after finding I wasn’t really tasting it anymore right around the time I got interested in trying so more Irish whiskeys, specifically interested in the pot still style. It took a bit of searching without having to order it from overseas, but I finally found somewhere that had it. With the reputation and my curiosity I was really looking forward to this one.

Redbreast 15, Ireland Single Pot Still, 46% ABV

Minutia: Matured in Bouron barrels and Sherry butts. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Tawny, 1.4.

Nose: Malt, fruity, honey, nut. Gets close to vanilla and hay.

Taste: Spicy, woody, nutty.

Finish: Similar spices, long.

This is nice. I like it as a whiskey that I wouldn’t describe anything other than whiskey. Smoky whiskey, fruity whisky, etc. When I’m in the mood for just “whiskey” this is a great choice. I’m disappointed a sample of the 21 I ordered ended up out of stock, but I’m keen on trying more from Redbreast in the future.

Score: 80

Cragganmore 12

If any of you recognize what I generally review, you’ll know this is well off of my path. I ended up ordering this (since locally it’s about 1.5x the price, a rare case of international shipping being ultimately cheaper) after seeing some fair praise and comparisons for it when I was looking for a break from peat. I found myself sipping on a dram of Lagavulin and noticed I didn’t find it smoky at all, so I figured I should take a break from peat for a bit. This was the first bottle of that period. 

Cragganmore 12, Speyside Single Malt, 40% ABV

Minutia: Matured in 2nd-fill Bourbon casks, often combined with 1st-fill or virgin oak casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Burnished, 1.1.

Nose: Malty, honey, vague indiscriminate fruit.

Taste: Much like the nose, tiniest bit of heat.

Finish: Dry, much like the palate. Pretty long, especially for its ABV.

So, it’s certainly not my cup of tea, but I didn’t have to power through it or anything. I actually quite liked the light maltiness, I just wish there were some more power to it. It’s not complex, but I kind of like that from the get-go you know the experience you’re getting. The 2019 special release of the peated Cragganmore from when Diageo thought they might need to use Cragganmore to cover Talisker went from a novelty I’d try if I could to something I intend to buy while it’s still around.

Score: 76