Longrow Red 11 Year Cabernet Sauvignon Finish

The whole concept of tasting notes has become absurd to me. I can't access others' notes, or even my own from earlier. Ultimately, whisky notes are transient; once past, they can't be replicated, even from the same bottle. They're like a personal diary; useless unless you're a stalker. From now on, if you're interested, I'll only post reviews without detailed notes for bottles I buy and finish. The main objective will be to offer an opinion on whether you should buy the bottle, and to remind myself whether to get it again. Of course, the first bottle I finished using this new method isn't listed. Bottled in 2015, purchased on?/?/17, and finished on 12/10/18. Springbank OB, Longrow Red Fresh Pinot Noir Casks, 12 years old, 52.9% ABV. Limited release of 9000 bottles. Price: 90 USD. I bought a second bottle for $110. There's a clear, sharp pinot noir influence, especially in a newly opened bottle. The wine isn't fully integrated with the whisky, which isn't necessarily a flaw, as it adds excitement. The ashy smoke contributes complexity. Tart and sweet fruit jams contend with the dank, earthy peat of Longrow. It has a creamy mouthfeel. The finish is medium and complex, with lingering tobacco and fruit notes. This isn't a traditional single malt; it's not the smoothest or most balanced, but it's delicious and memorable. Rating (price excluded): 92 / 100. Purchase satisfaction (price included): 4 / 5.

I had a serving of this over the weekend while watching Mowgli with the kids. I should have chosen something stronger... the menacing snake Kaa kept my 6-year-old waking up all night with nightmares. I never truly grasped the Jungle Book. I read it as a child in the fifth grade, and reflecting on it now, I suspect Kipling must have been under the influence of something. Mowgli would have lasted mere seconds against those wolves and that spiteful tiger. And why would he wear a loincloth? Shouldn't he be completely naked like his wolf siblings? Anyway... this pour, which I purchased as a TWE sample, is interesting. The wine influence is not well-integrated into the whisky at all. It feels like experiencing a sooty Campbeltown whisky followed by a shot of red wine. It's a bit sharp on the tongue, with lingering tannins from the wine. I'm glad I bought a sample... I'm not sure it's worth the premium for these bottles to my taste. Note to self: avoid buying Longrow Red without sampling first. And don't let a 6-year-old watch movies featuring murderous tigers, kidnapped monkeys, and psychotic hyenas.

I thoroughly enjoy this dram. The aroma offers gentle smoke, a touch of earthy peat, and robust notes of berry or red jam. The palate quickly shifts to peat, malt, and a hint of brine, before settling into notes of cooked brown sugar, aged oak, and deeper fruits like fig or date. The finish carries on into the evening with predominantly smoldering peat. It's not for the timid, but if you appreciate peat and bolder Scotches, this should be on your radar.

Nose: Smoky, strawberry, raspberry, woody, with a slight medicinal quality. Palate: The typical briny and salty notes of a Longrow. Smoke is well-balanced with sweet, buttery undertones. Floral, with hints of dark fruit, but again, much more floral and subtle than a sherry-finished whisky. Tart, woody, and spicy. Rich apple. Strawberries and cream. Body: Rich, but not oily or thick. Full. Finish: Long, woody, with hints of apple and berry. Robust.

This review pertains to the Australian Shiraz Cask 11 Year Old. It has a sweet and smoky aroma, with a long-lasting oak presence and a very intense peat flavor throughout. It's by far the best Campbeltown I've had – highly recommended if you can locate it.

I sampled the Longrow 12 Pinot Noir cask ($90) at Block in September 2016. The owner of C&B really enjoyed it. I did too - it had a peat level similar to Caol Ila but with a sweeter, richer foundation.