Review by: Raygun

A single cask release for the Springbank Society, a fino sherry butt yielding 600 bottles. Distilled June 1996 and bottled in April 2009. Rested about 10 minutes.

---

Distillery: Longrow (Springbank)

Bottler: Longrow (Springbank)

Region/style: Campbeltown single malt Scotch

ABV: 57.6%. Cask strength

Age: 12 years. Distilled in June 1996. Bottled in April 2009.

Cask type: Fino sherry butt.

Color: 1.7 burnt umber. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered. Really dark for fino, which is typically much lighter.

---

Nose: Strangely I don’t get a lot of peat. Very jammy, with some hoisin sauce. Fish sauce, too, that kind of funky briny note. This is not like any other fino cask I’ve had.

Palate: OK, now I get more peat, though still milder than most other Longrows I’ve had. Plum sauce, fish sauce, tamarind paste. Fruity but not very sweet. Has some nice umami notes, and fortunately very little sulfur (water brings some out). Very Southeast Asian vibe from this.

Finish: Some charcoal smoke and spent match. Vietnamese tamarind shrimp. Some mushroom earthiness and grape jam. It’s kind of a strange combination, but it works.

---

Conclusion: What a trip. Very different than my expectations. I could almost wonder if an oloroso cask got mislabeled as fino, though I’m sure that’s unlikely. I was not expecting the earthy and meaty flavors based on prior experience with fino casks. This is a peculiar one. Not my favorite Longrow, but very good, and definitely interesting.

Buy a bottle? Never gonna happen.

Final Score: 81

---

Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)