Longrow 100° Proof Batch #1

Review by: The Muskox

Here’s another one from The Keys Bar in St. Andrews – the Macallan that immediately preceded this was apparently so good that I forgot to take a photo of this bottle. This 100 Proof bottling has apparently replaced the Longrow Reds.

Distillery: Springbank.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Campbeltown.

ABV: 57.1%.

Age: Around 6 years old, according to the distillery. Bottled in 2025.

Cask type: Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, then finished in for over two years in refill Pinot Noir casks.

Price: I think this was £10 or so at the bar.

Color: No colour added. Non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Smells like a Springbank. Not overly smoky, but still funky. Dusty old barns, cider vinegar, wine-soaked hard cheese, talcum powder, and menthol. Broiche toast. Smoked almonds.

Palate: Medium body. Arrives surprisingly sweet! Burnt marshmallows and citrus oils. More salty cheese, pecorino-like. Develops to more smoked nuts, black pepper, crisp peat, iodine, chicken bouillon… Tesco’s roast beef and horseradish crisps! If you’ve never tried those, they’re worth flying to the UK for. With a dribble of water, there’s rich spicy ginger, some tropical fruit, and some minerality.

Finish: Relatively soft. Oranges and pears. Dried mushrooms. Cucumber?

I think water is an improvement here. There’s lemon, ginger, and eventually, pineapple. White grape and a basement full of Mini-Wheats.

Conclusion: At first, I was ready to say that this wasn’t my favourite Longrow ever, but the floor with that whisky is so high that it’s still a great bottling. It’s funky and complex, but nothing too out of the ordinary for a mostly-ex-bourbon Longrow. Then I added the water… what an improvement. The depth of tropical fruit that emerges pushes this comfortably into the “great” zone. Eventually I added what I’d usually say is too much water, but it was still great!

Damnit, I miss those Tesco’s crisps.

Final Score: 89.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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