Longrow 18 yo 2018

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Sherry and Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

The Mitchell family launched their first Longrow 18-year-old in 2008. At the time, it was a small limited edition of 2,100 bottles, which no doubt went unnoticed. It gradually became a success, and from 2011 onwards, new editions were produced annually. The 2018 edition was limited to 4800 bottles. Aged 60% in sherry casks and 40% in bourbon casks, it offers a balance between these two types of maturation.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Yellow fruits with a dash of peat, crushed almonds, honey and icing sugar. Almond paste, flavoured with vanilla. And with that, the smell of fresh bread, wheat under the sun, a touch of dry earth, a drizzle of olive oil. The peat elbows a bit, but barely. Candied lemon, juicy mirabelles, Jura or Burgundy wine. At last, a whiff of farmhouse, it's about time. Straw, hay, stable. We're all familiar with it, and it's a pleasure to rediscover these typical distillery fragrances. Wildflower honey, violets and daffodils. A few plums to finish, and a waxy note, beeswax rather than floor wax. A bit of both, though. Evanescent smoke.
On the palate, it's suave, juicy, vinous, then the spices rise up, pungent, white pepper, cardamom, that grazes the tongue, slightly watery vanilla, a hint of camphor. It's quite heavy, and you can't really taste the fruits. Muffled peat, but almost medicinal. Earthy, with some lime and manure. Good fat earth ready to be ploughed, and varnished wood.
Very long finish, on hazelnut, an ounce of coal, humus, the peat still comes through, very vegetal. Vanilla, orgeat, cane syrup. Elderberry. Slightly dry blackberries. This fades very slowly, gradually.

 

In Short, 

It's as original as it is masterful. I really enjoyed the almond fragrances, the farmhouse peat and the never-ending finish. Unfortunately, due to the high demand, the price went through the roof - what a shame.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Red Hot Chili Peppers - Jam