Longrow CV

This 200 ml bottle is from an unknown time and was acquired without record for my own enjoyment. It's called "CV", short for "Curriculum Vitae", meaning "The Course of Life" in Latin. It was aged in ex-Rum, ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and ex-Port casks, with ages ranging from seven to fourteen years. Also, a 200 ml bottle with a cork? Seriously? A screw top would have been far more practical. I don't keep spare 200 ml corks! Nose - Frankly, not great? It smells like very young whisky. I detect sour fruit and a hint of sour milk. Now some buttered bread, sourdough naturally. As it airs out, some wine and pleasant fruit sweetness emerge. Deeper sniffs where I anticipate peat only yield ethanol and dusty oak. The more it opens, the more I get a port-like character, and while I wouldn't confidently say rum, it has an unusual spirit note that I can't quite place but makes me think of rum. Taste - Buttery, savory, with distinct oak and funk. It then shifts to the saltiest and most peaty Longrow finish I've encountered, though it's also the shortest and thinnest. It has a youthful sweetness straight from the still, but it's somewhat mellowed, lacking the off-putting new make spirit bite or that milky quality. The positives - It boasts many intricate notes, clearly showing a blend of casks vying for attention. I'm also picking up both older and younger characteristics... I know, I know... I read the description, but that's the best way to describe how disjointed, yet somehow pleasingly so, this is. I appreciate its saltiness and the significant peat presence. In many ways, it's a formidable Longrow. The negatives - It's just not that good. I detect young whisky notes that I dislike. The finish is shorter than I'd prefer, and I feel there's not enough substance. I will say it's flavorful. My rating is 1.75. Notes on 10 vs CV vs NAS to follow. I purchased this trio, along with the Hazelburn and Springbank CVs, for 75 euros. I plan to review those three here eventually. I'm hoping to tackle them all tonight, but that's quite a bit to drink, even with half-ounce samples. Alright, the fun part: which CV is the best? The nose on all of them begins quite similarly. I've noticed that whichever has been in the glass the longest smells best, becoming sweeter and displaying fewer of those off-notes from younger whiskies. Taste - The Longrow does the most to highlight a mix of cask finishes and perhaps seems to contain the most youthful spirit. The Hazelburn has an almost glue-like quality initially, but its finish is truly impressive. Hazelburn has a peculiar malt profile that I generally favor over others. The Springbank is simply good Springbank, embodying what we've come to love about the brand. It's not exceptional by their standards, but it is, indeed, Springbank. Unsurprisingly, the order is Springbank - Hazelburn - Longrow. Now, 10 vs NAS vs CV (Should I review these separately?) Nose - The 10 is clean, sweet, oaky, and while not deep or dark, it's complex with pleasant sherry and dark fruit notes. It's good. The CV's nose is sweeter (like cane sugar) but considerably less oaky and lacks depth. It's like smelling the rim of the glass rather than its core, unlike the 10. A strange comparison, but it accurately reflects my perception. The NAS is salty, peaty, dry, with cheap wood notes; no depth, no complexity. Taste - Refer to my notes on the 10 for a balanced whisky that, while not older, possesses depth and character. It's well-crafted, nicely blending sherry and bourbon influences. The CV has more of a kick, both in a pleasant salty, peaty way and also appearing younger. The NAS tastes like cardboard-soaked whisky compared to these, finishing with new make notes. It does have the longest finish of the group, but I'm not sure I desire such a prolonged end. I don't hate the NAS; it's raw, young, unrefined peat with no other elements to integrate its flavors. Instead, it's just raw peat that needs to interact with other components, as older peated whiskies do with age. People often say peat fades with age, but I disagree. I believe peat matures and becomes an integral part of a great whisky with time. Here, you get peat and nothing but peat, along with peculiar oak. It's tough being a Springbank product. Your siblings are all so accomplished, but today, in the least surprising outcome ever: Longrow 10 > Longrow CV >>> Longrow Peated NAS. The more I compare the CV and 10, the more I perceive port versus sherry, which I enjoy the contrast of. The CV has the longer finish, but its mouthfeel is shorter and thinner. The NAS peat is in a league of its own; the other two are much, much closer in profile. The NAS is truly a Springbank without a peer. It resembles the terrible, awful, kill-me-now Killeran heavily peated trash more than the others, but unlike that swill, this is still a quality bottling. I just don't really enjoy it anymore. The Kilkerran, however... I have batch 2 and will never buy it again! Oh, I'm getting some mint from the CV now, reminding me more and more of an Islay malt. That's a good thing! Anyway, please share your thoughts on ANY of this.

This is my second Longrow, the highly regarded and discontinued Longrow CV, which preceded the current Longrow Peated (an absolutely superb offering). The "CV" designation stands for Curriculum Vitae, Latin for "The Course of Life." This expression is matured in a blend of ex-Rum, ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and ex-Port casks, with ages ranging from 7 to 14 years. Bottled at 46% ABV, with an amber hue. On the nose, it is simply magnificent. Immediately, you detect notes of new socks, citrus, damp grass, tilled earth, bacon, Scotch tape, orange peel, detergent, and a stable. You read that correctly. After the initial taste, the aroma transforms into notes of a farm pond, sea foam, and a delightful lemon pie. Quite fascinating. On the palate, it was exceptionally enjoyable and quite fruity. It begins with vanilla and grapefruit, followed by prunes, pepper, and a touch of sulfur. Subsequent sips revealed lemon pie, lemongrass, and meringue. The finish brought on a blissful closing of the eyes. A maritime sensation, salty, herbal; a pleasant smoke, star anise, sandalwood, palo santo, and more salt. Overall, this was a spectacular, otherworldly dram. It fell just short of perfection in a few areas, but it is incredibly complex and flavorful. My score is a well-earned 97 out of 100. Cheers!

This is a very enjoyable whisky - well-balanced and captivating. Longrow is described as "heavily peated," but it doesn't deliver a peat punch like Islay whiskies. While the peat is certainly noticeable, it's a pleasant smoke that is present throughout the nose and palate without ever overwhelming the other elements of the dram. The three types of casks used - bourbon, rum, and sherry - create a finishing element that is presented in a unified manner. In fact, it seems as though only one type of cask was used. The combined taste reminded me of a cognac finish - fruity, a bit sweet, with some wood and a touch of spice. If it hadn't been discontinued some years ago, I would purchase a bottle. But I'm very pleased to have had the chance to sample it; thank you to a friend for the pour! Perhaps we will see something similar from Longrow in the future.

I've always been a fan of Campbeltown; there's just something about its charcoal-like smoke combined with floral and citrus aromas. Thanks to a friend, I got to sample this. I appreciate it even more considering how rare this is; it's discontinued now. The aromas and flavors are comparable to Springbank 10, but with slightly more nuanced smoke and intensity. Perhaps due to the use of various casks? If you're a fan of Springbank but want something a bit milder with more fruit and nuts on the palate, this would be ideal. Well-balanced, austere, and complex enough to make you want to return for more. After trying this, I immediately checked our site for availability in Union, NJ... all sold out. If you find it, it's a worthwhile sipper. Thanks to my friend!

Venturing beyond island spirits, I explored a Springbank expression discovered overlooked at a liquor store. The initial scent was promising, featuring prominent peat with subtle floral hints. The taste began harmoniously, balancing peat and sweetness, but vanished too rapidly to identify further nuances. Sadly, a faint metallic aftertaste emerged, an unexpected dissonance given the preceding flavors. This was an underwhelming experience, failing to meet expectations set by reviews and my own anticipation for a vintage bottle of this limited release, though I'm open to trying other whiskies from this distillery. What Springbank bottles would you recommend to fellow enthusiasts?

As a robustly peated single malt, one anticipates ample peat and smoky notes, akin to smoked cheddar or even smoked haddock, with a mineral, metallic quality. However, its immediate sweetness is striking, though not overwhelming. The peat arrives just as the sweetness peaks, creating a magnificent spicy, peaty intensity that overshadows the sweetness, relegating it to a background element. The finish presents vanilla fudge alongside the peat, which has a dry, peppery character, reminiscent of the metallic sensation experienced from touching a 9-volt battery to one's tongue – surprisingly pleasant.