Where the Mull of Kintyre runs out into the sea and the water keeps hammering at granite and kelp, the old pot stills still fire up a different kind of Campbeltown whisky. Longrow is the peated sibling of Springbank, and in this 21 year old 2023 release, time has softened the smoke into something almost sweet.
Expert Description
Longrow 21 Year Old Limited Edition 2023 is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled at Springbank, matured in a combination of sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.
Longrow is the most heavily peated of the three styles produced at Springbank Distillery, alongside the medium-peated Springbank and the unpeated, triple-distilled Hazelburn. The barley is dried over peat smoke for up to 48 hours before it is milled, mashed and fermented using the same old-fashioned methods as the rest of the distillery's output. The 21 year old is the oldest standing release in the Longrow range, and this 2023 vintage draws its character from roughly 65% sherry casks and 35% bourbon casks, a combination that lends the smoke a sweetness rarely found in younger expressions.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A savoury, slightly tangy note greets you first, followed by hazelnut and blackcurrant. Underneath sits a hint of tanned leather and smoked ham.
Palate
A syrupy sweetness coats the palate, where cola bottles and cigar-box tobacco play off each other while the smoke stays in the background like a warm, whispering bass note.
Finish
The finish is pure Longrow: shingle beach, wet flint and seaweed, as if the sea itself washes over the palate one last time.
Specifications
Name: Longrow 21 Year Old Limited Edition 2023
Distillery: Springbank
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry and bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Limited Edition 2023
EAN no.: 610854003869
Flavour Profile
Peated · Maritime · Fruity · Spicy
Investment Potential
Medium - Longrow 21 Year Old is an annual, strictly limited release from one of Scotland's most sought-after distilleries, and older vintages in the range are known to climb steadily in value on the secondary market as retailer stock sells out.
Did You Know?
The name Longrow comes from a distillery in Campbeltown that closed in 1896 and once stood on the site now occupied by Springbank's car park - the name was revived in 1973 for the distillery's peated style.
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