Longrow Peated

Surely no need for lengthy waffle here but suffice to say that this is the peated style from Springbank. This I believe, replaced the 10 a few years back and is double distilled as opposed to 2 and a 1/2 times for SB and triple for Hazelburn.

Bottles been open about a month with three quarters left. This is a 30 ml pour, neat (it doesn't benefit from water, imo), and tucked into from the off.

Nose - Salt and smoke that's more fireside embers than ash tray like and that always comforting nip of peat. Some herbal and creamy barley notes, and full, with lots of lemon pastries. Tarte au Citron, oui? There are definitely sour fruits at play here. Clean and inticing.

Taste - Lemon cheesecake covered in forest fire ashes. Lemon, lots of lemon. The smoke is earthy and mingles nicely with the sweetness. Quite sour as it develops and it's very soft for 46%.

Finish - Fairly short as you'd expect for a 7 - 9 year old whisky (far as I can tell) but smoke, some salt and light tannins stand out. Crisp.

This is my first Longrow and, like everything else from Springbank, this also impresses. The smoke reminds me more of Ardmore than anything from Islay but it suits the barley forward style nicely. It's a straightforward (elemental?) whisky but the quality is clearly there. A good 'summer' peated whisky for sure and would make a nice change from Islay peat, if that's your thing; but don't expect phenolic fireworks, the peat is more restrained and balanced than in, say, a Laphroaig.

This is the apparent replacement to the C.V, which was much appreciated by all of us whisky afficionados. It was introduced over a year ago and seemed to follow in the C.V's footsteps so i grabbed me a bottle. (advise: these notes are from late 2013)

Nose: Oily raincoat on a rainy day at the harbour, or close to the coast-line. Pungent peat (maybe self evident) but almost elegant compared to the usual almost charcoal-nature of the longrow peat. Some juicy fruit under the peat: Pear, baked pear, apples (yellow), quince (distinct and unusual), kiwi fruit. Some avocado and boston pickles rounds off this interesting nose.

Palate: Medium salty peat with a big cola-toffee note as its companion make up the arrival. Apples, pears and a very slight savoury lime note. Peaty but not fiery or pepppery, but like the nose: Oily pungent peat with juicy fruits, malt-sugars and cola.

Finnish Bitter cucumber skin and lemon oil, with the pungent peat finally rescessing from the banks.

Not better than some the C.V bottlings i've tried, but this is a very worthy successor nevertheless.

Longrow peated is produced at the Springbank distillery in Cambletown. It is non chill filtered, non age statement as seems to be the current trend. Thankfully no caramel is added and this is obvious as it's a very pale spirit. Springbank started Longrow in 1973 as a project to produce a peated Whisky. The first Longrow hit the shelves around 1990 and now there are several expressions. I like this one.

Nose: Salty, leather, smoke, caramel Palate: Smoke, salt, peat, oak, pepper, honey Finish: the smoke lingers for a medium long finish.

I tried it with and without a drop of water. Overall water does open it up but only add a tiny, tiny drop. I like it better neat. Not an Islay but still good work.

Apparently this is the Longrow CV in new packaging. I had no expectations, I even might have taken it with an elitist attitude. Thinking that this might not work because it's not from Islay. I'm glad that Longrow Peated proved me that I was being an idiot.

Longrow Peated was a good combination of light notes and light smoke that turns into a powerful and lasting smoke. Especially the nose was intriguing. Master of Malt put it nicely: "like a Harbourmaster's Jacket."

Longrow Peated had something "New Romantic" in it. Like I had went back in time and tasted a whisky from the past. It's hard to explain and it sounds crazy because a) I haven't tasted whisky in the past b) I can imagine whisky pretty much tastes same now as it tasted in the past.

Because of that feel and the tasting notes, this whisky was easy to assimilate to the TV series Ashes to Ashes.

Nose: Sweet, leathery and a bit salty smoke that turns into powerful trails of ashes.

Taste: Light and tough. Starts lightly with fruity notes like green grapes. Then suddenly gives you a good deal of smoke but not in a harsh way.

Finish: Salty smoke lingers very well and the lightness withdraws.

Balance: Well balanced whisky that doesn't leave you cold but isn't too smoky either. I can honestly recommend this for everyone, even for hardcore smoke diggers.