2011 Longrow 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Springbank's flagship, Longrow 18 year old represents one of the rarest offerings from this tiny artisan distillery and a curio for mainland Scotland, boasting Islay peating levels of 50ppm. In 2008 we saw the first 18 year-old bottling flash before out eyes due to a minuscule allocation, and the same has followed in 2011 with a total production of 2,280 bottles worldwide.

We recommend you read John Hansell's report on the status of Longrow's production. A small excerpt relevant to this bottling can be found below: '...Since they didn’t make Longrow in 1991, there won’t be another bottling of 18 year old next year. In fact, according to Kate Wright of Springbank, the stocks of Longrow are so limited that their current plans are to not release another Longrow 18 until 2011 (in equally limited quantities). And then not again until 2013. There won’t be regular stocks of Longrow 18 until 2015 onwards!'

This is a serious whisky that will find a narrow audience with equally serious collectors. Be sure to get in early to avoid disappointment.

Other Reviews...
Nose: great nose with a smooth mixture of mineral notes (wet stone, sand), coastal notes (soft brine, seaweed) and rounder fruity notes (apple and pear). It shows a kind of gentle peatiness and balance that reminds me of some of the best (though much older) Port Ellens.
Mouth: oily, with a slightly sharp peatiness. Some medicinal notes. A spicy kick (pepper and ginger) and a zesty bitterness (tonic). After this first wave the balance returns with sweeter notes of citrus candy and apple, although the bitterness never disappears completely.
Finish: long, half peppery, half sweet, half bitter (that’s three halves…) with some earthy peat. I really love the sophisticated nose but there’s a certain roughness in the taste which keeps me from rating it higher. Very nice whisky anyway.
(46%, OB 2011, 2280 btl.)- Review by Ruben - http://www.whiskynotes.be/

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