Longrow is the heavily peated variety of Springbank, one of the few remaining Campbeltown distilleries. Campbeltown is one of the classic regions of Scotch production, like Lowland, Highland, Speyside, and Islay. Springbank also has an imprint called Hazelburn, which is unpeated, triple-distilled, and quite smooth. I look forward to reviewing that soon.
I love (LOVE!) smoky whiskies, and I'm always searching for one that can dethrone my very favorite - Ardbeg Uigeadail, a dark and brooding BBQ-flavored Islay. Sonu recommended Longrow CV, which follows the Everything And The Kitchen Sink philosophy: this is a No Age Statement whisky that is a variety of 7 Year, 10 Year, and 14 Year whiskies that are variously aged in bourbon, sherry, port, and rum casks (!!!). Every flavor is theoretically present. Let's see which come across:
Nose: A strong and beautiful scent. Alcohol is very present (the young whisky) but also very strong dark sour fruit (plums and cranberries and very, very strong cherries). More vanilla than honey. Sherry fruit in the guise of rum-soaked raisins, but they are completely translucent here. The sherry scent is unmistakable but also very very faint. I really like this nose, which really does bring a little of everything to the table, although it's a little heavy on the sour profile. It's like a much more intense, concentrated, peated version of The Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Smoke settles just above the rest of the flavors, like in a T. S. Eliot poem. "The yellow smoke that slides along the street" indeed...
Mouthfeel: Medium to thin. Not particularly oily or silky, and not particularly smoky or ashy. The young alcohol makes its presence felt here.
Palate: Smoke and then some more smoke. This is definitely heavily peated. I was quite pleased by what Longrow CV brought to the table: vanilla and oak entwined (bourbon elements), thick thick peat, Lemon and lime oils together with the young alcohol. Hint of sherry and port cask aging (that yeasty old wine taste that creeps into the back of the throat). Very little traditional sweetness, actually, but a lot of savory elements. On the back end is a thicker back-of-the-mouth sweet glow that I assume was rum cask influence. Maybe the vaguest clue indicating tobacco leaf. I like this assembly quite a bit.
Finish: The oak and smoke outlast the remainder of the flavors, as is usual for heavily peated whiskies, It's a smooth, graceful finish.
Verdict: I Recommend this, even though it's apparently discontinued and replaced by Longrow Peated Whisky. Haven't had that yet, so can't speak to the quality... but Longrow CV is quite good. I got this for only about $45 or $50 a bottle, which is very good. It reminds me most of Ardbeg Corryvreckan, which sells for $20 more a bottle, making this a very good find if you come across it.
Link to the Longrow website (CV doesn't have its own page): http://www.springbankwhisky.com/longrow/
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