Longrow Peated

So, I rifled through my liquor cabinet a couple of weeks ago and spotted this Longrow Peated that I purchased almost 2 years ago and decided this one needs to move along (aka get drank). For those that don’t know, Longrow is Springbank’s heavily-peated whisky line. They make several age statement bottles, but this one is the NAS version. Basically, Springbank has allocated 100 casks per year, since 1973, for the Longrow line. Even though there isn’t an age statement on this bottling it is non-chill filtered and natural in color. It’s a pale gold in the Glencairn and forms heavy droplets and undefined legs. I paid around $55 for this bottle back in 2016. Prices have remained pretty steady for this one, too. The nose is surprisingly more salty than I expected. Very Talisker-esque. There’s some vegetal notes and lots of earthy peat. A quick hit of sweet vanilla mingles in nicely but the campfire smoke is kept in check. The palate brings fresh oak and vanilla to the front, with smoke and salted fish rolling around the tongue. The youthful spirit is unexpectedly harsh, especially being Springbank, and kind of limits me from detecting much depth. The finish is medium length, salty and very dry. This one is all wood, earthy peat and smoke, which is what they’re going for I suppose. This stuff needs to spend some quality time in a great finishing cask IMO. As it is, it’s a bit too harsh to be thoroughly enjoyed. At 46% ABV I don’t think watering it down will help much- it just needs some older juice blended in. Overall, it’s decent and I guess a respectable preview of what Springbank’s heavily peated whisky is all about, I just think the islands and Islay do it so much better that this style should be left to those guys. 3 stars, tops. Cheers.

Good dram. Sweetness of the vanilla from the ex bourban casks marries nicely with the peat. 3.75

CASCODE gives an excellent and accurate review. I would add that I get some vinegar and pine tar (like retsina) on the palette. The soft peat is lovely. A very interesting and challenging whisky. Under-rated here at 85. As good as Ledaig at 90.

schöner rauchiger Geruch scharf auf der Zunge vorne, rauchig im Geschmack

[Whiskey Live NY 2018] - I was so split on this bottle that I decided to give it a higher mark in hopes that one day I get to try this again and really figure out what separates this malt from everything else I've tried.