Review by: Raygun

Longrow is the heavily peated whisky distilled at Springbank, and has become just about as unattainable under normal circumstances as Springbank and Hazelburn. Which is a shame, because it’s one of my favorite peaters. Not so much the Red series, which I’ve found hit or miss, but most of the others I’ve tried have been up there. I have fond memories of an 11 year sherry cask from Taiwan, and hope this older one has some of that magic. Rested about 10 minutes. 

Distillery: Longrow (Springbank)

Bottler: Springbank

Region/style: Campbeltown single malt Scotch

ABV: 57.8%. Cask strength. 

Age: 14 years. Distilled in September 2003 and bottled in July 2018. 

Cask type: Refill oloroso casks, 9000 bottles.

Color: 1.6 mahogany. Natural color and non-chill-filtered.

---

Nose: Much better a few months after opening. It was very sulfuric at first, but that has dissipated some. Pulled pork, raspberries, Concord grape jelly, medium smoke. There’s some cabbage and mustard, but the sulfur is mostly meaty at this point. 

Palate: Gets more mustardy, honey mustard specifically. Braised cabbage, smoke, and grape jelly. Pulled pork with Carolina sauce. There are some nice berry flavors, but mostly this is smoky and meaty. Sweet and sour pork. Some cumin pops up. Definitely on the dirty and funky side. 

Finish: Smoke is powerful. Pulled pork now with more of a Kansas City sweet barbecue sauce. Brown sugar, raspberry jam. Hint of mustard green sort of flavor more  than mustard the condiment. Sweet for oloroso.  

Bonus wife note: “I don’t like this one.” 

---

Conclusion: The sulfur could definitely be divisive here. Not the dirtiest bottle I’ve had by any means, but it was strong particularly at first. It’s moderated significantly with time, but it’s still got some cabbage and mustard. Tends more toward barbecue now, with a fruity sauce. The sweetness is pretty unusual for oloroso casks. In any case, this is pretty in your face in all respects. Not my favorite Longrow, but that was a Sauternes cask that will be hard to top.

Score: 82

---

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)