Longrow 21 Year (2020 Release)

I have a great appreciation for Longrow; in fact, most single malts from Springbank distillery are excellent spirits. I've previously enjoyed a couple of Longrows, and both were exceptional, which led me to seek out the premium offering, the 21-year-old. This whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and presents a burnished gold hue. The aroma is incredibly intricate, possibly one of the most complex I've encountered; it offered an abundance of notes. Delightful grape, grapefruit, and apple scents were present. A subtle, minty peat note lingered underneath it all. Pineapple juice was also detected. It's remarkably fresh. After about five minutes, it unveiled notes of freshly zested orange, red berries, and a hint of coconut. Now, I'm getting lemon. All sorts of fruits are noticeable. I also detect caramel, adding to the immense complexity. Following the initial taste, a peaty character emerged, with mint, herbaceousness, and toffee. The taste profile of this dram is so multifaceted that new flavors seem to appear with each sip. Pepper and caramel are intertwined. There's a sulfuric, earthy peat. It's potent on the palate, with pineapple and vanilla notes. A subsequent taste brought forth caramel, salt, and gunpowder. Further sips revealed oranges, subdued red fruits, and salt, making it much fruitier. Toffee is also present, combined with pineapple. The finish is more direct, of medium length but highly satisfying. It has an ashy conclusion with ginger. Sulfuric; it's refined yet possesses a peaty and robust character. In summary, this is a delightful dram, exceptionally well-balanced, sophisticated, and complex, featuring peat, fruit, sweetness, and salt – it contains everything. It's truly remarkable. While a full bottle is pricey, around $280-300 offers excellent value. It's a spectacular single malt, thoroughly recommended. My rating is 98 out of 100. Slàinte Mhath.

This is actually the 2020 version, composed of 95% sherry and 5% bourbon. While I haven't seen production details, I'd estimate the yield at 3-4k given its age and the distillery. Nose - At this moment, it brings to mind a white wine, possibly a Chardonnay? The unusual character and peat contribute a slightly tart element, while the malt offers vanilla, but the influence of the sherry casks reintroduces notes more akin to white wine. Quite distinctive. The finish brings back notes of sugar cookies and lightly charred oak barrels. Taste - A savory, bready sweetness evolves into oak and tart, bitter sherry wine notes. There are artificial sweetener notes present. The finish is lengthy and intricate, primarily focusing on those sweet pastry notes. This is my third time sampling it, and each experience has varied, though consistently centered around a core theme. It's peculiar and unconventional, but not in the extreme manner of most longrows. The alcohol and body feel more substantial than an 18-year-old, yet the wine casks are not as dominant. These casks appear fatigued. Each sip seems to shift the balance from sweet or sour to bitter, and currently, it tastes significantly more sour and bitter. The complexity achieved here is remarkable. Longrow is deliberately moving as far away as possible from the refined, sweet-forward drams of Macallan as they launch their higher-end series. Be advised, this will not appeal to everyone, but the sheer complexity and depth attained at 46% ABV should not be underestimated. I'm rating it a 3.75, approximately an 89, though last night I had it at a 90.

From a virtual tasting event. This is one of 3600 bottles. Nose: Rich toffee, sweet smoke, meaty/BBQ (?), and coastal brine. Palate: Dried dark fruit (prunes), herbal (coriander), nutty, with light, sweet peat and a musty/sulphuric note. A recognizable 'Campbeltown funk,' typical of Springbank distillery, is present. Finish: Very smooth, velvety mouthfeel with slightly citrus/sour notes and light sweet smoke. This whiskey presents in waves, shifting between enjoyment and aversion due to sulphur, mushroom, and dank notes. It's unusual. While not loved, it is wonderfully interesting, possessing many layers—some great, some less so—making for a beautifully complex and well-balanced dram. It tied for second favorite of the six whiskies tasted, with 17% of the vote for favorite. 1000 for favorite. 78% of attendees enjoyed it.