Longrow 18 Year

(This regards the 2019 edition) The nose is unexpectedly caressing, of vanilla, ripe cherry, plum and white chocolate, with the peat that collects and incorporates the aromas in its fleshy and medicinal heart. Tobacco. Very balanced and elegant. The mouth is oily and ashy, with a very pleasant vinous dryness. The dance between peat and fruity notes continues graceful, with notes of Caribbean cigar, plums, black cherries, yellow peach, vanilla, a slight herbaceous hint on the background, a touch of dried fruit. Full-bodied, with hints that alternate and mingle with each sip, where peat knows how to be the protagonist without gigionizing, in a very enjoyable overall chorus. The finish is rather long, ashy and dry with plums and almonds. An example of great balance and wisdom, with a peat that you expected to explode and instead knows how to integrate masterfully with the aromas of the aging casks. Elegant and sober as you don't expect.

smooth, peaty, rich, fruity, citrus, not oceany

This review is for a bottle from 2018 I gave this bottle 96 out of 100 back when I was giving scores out of 100. Now that the bottle is finished, I give it 3 stars, which is my highest rating, and the only other whisky to get it is Balblair 1990. There’s nothing much to add to my previous review. Now that the bottle is finished, it feels like I’ve lost a best friend. This gem is simply the best standard release bottling from any Scottish distillery; matured 18 years exclusively in delicious casks. Seriously, when a bottle is this good, you really don’t care about investigating its pedigree. I was a little superfluous with the notes in my previous review, so I’ll keep it simple here: on the nose, spectacular; on the palate, spectacular; and the finish is… spectacular. $200+ is a little pricey for an 18 year old, but if pricing were based solely on quality, this would be worth twice that. Score: *** (I am not worthy) How much does a bottle cost: $190-220 How much do I think a bottle is worth: $450

Complex and unusual well aged whiskey Nose: strong Peat,, sweet, Fruity, toffee, nice and complex, very appealing Taste strong At first, then cooked fruits, Toffee, small campfire/charcoal, vanilla, slightly minty… Finish medium long dominated by Peat Everyone seems to have a different reaction to this unusual whiskey. In part, I attribute this to the unusual mix of flavors, but also to the shifting palate. Certainly, it is difficult to describe, and is also changing and different every time I Taste it. Desirable, but the price is relatively high Some time in the glass does help 3 cL Sample, From 2017 release Smoky