Review #410 - Longrow 21 Year (2022)
The heavily-peated spirit coming from Springbank distillery - this is Longrow, specifically their 21 year old bottling. A limited release, this has only been bottled a few times in their history - a few times using some distillate from the early 1970s, and then again more recently, between 2019 and 2023. There should be a 2024 release coming, as well; after that, a break for a few years due to insufficient distillate at the right age in the casks.
While the classic lightly-peated Springbank is distilled '2.5' times, and the unpeated Hazelburn from the distillery is triple-distilled, this peated Longrow moves through the pot stills just twice, which should leave stronger smoke and oily character intact. That smokiness will be combated, however, by the higher age: the older the single malt, the gentler the remaining peat smoke generally is.
This specific release we're reviewing was bottled in 2022, which means it was likely distilled between 2000 and 2001; like many Springbank products, the cask mix will change from year to year. For this 2022 version of the 21 year old, they used an interesting selection: 30% ex-bourbon casks, 60% ex-sherry casks, and an unusual 10% ex-Chardonnay casks.
As always, we get the great craft presentation from this sought-after distillery: no chill filtration, no added caramel coloring, and a bottling strength of 46% ABV.
Longrow 21 Year (2022)
Scotland/Campbeltown - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 399 (2024)
Age Statement: 21 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: 30% ex-bourbon, 60% ex-sherry, and 10% ex-Chardonnay wine casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; 2022 release
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 50% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Very rich and musty, almost pungent. Mushrooms, both raw and sauteed, and some moss, a bit of that Campbeltown funk. Moldy lemons and oranges add a fruit side, while minerality and earthy notes combine to create a sort of petrichor sensation. The peat smoke is there but it's subtle; later, some dirty, rotten wood notes. Very, very musty, like an old cellar.
Palate: The mouthfeel thickness is medium or so; quite soft and subtle to start, but it's gorgeous. Balanced, with some mossy notes and earthy character, and a light to medium peat smoke; wood smoke is added in, as well as some old polished oak flavors. Coal, dusty, worn leather, and a soft herbal side arrive in time.
Finish: Some sweet vanilla on the back end, and then mushrooms return from the nose, along with more of those damp, earthy flavors. Mossy wood, salty sea water, and tart lemons appear in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Excellent whisky, which is definitely more subtle and complex due to its age. It does still have some peat, which peaks at maybe a medium level of intensity in the palate, but the years have mellowed the spirit. Soft old oak notes also appeared, but this dram was heavier on the mossy, funky, earthy side of the flavor spectrum for us. Our favorite part was probably the nose - could spend a lot of time there.
Value is hard to judge on these whiskies. With a higher and age statement, especially from a desirable distillery which doesn't produce a large amount of spirit, there's always going to be a premium on the price; in the USA, that's practically doubled after importation, distribution, and retail markups. Value based purely on a ratio of flavor and price isn't great, but there are worse ways to spend $400 in the luxury whisky market.
Our Average Rating: 9.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.89
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Springbank reviews:
Review #355 - Adelphi Springbank 21 Year Single Cask
Review #300 - ImpEx 1993 Springbank 25 Year
Review #221 - Longrow Red 15 Year - Pinot Noir Cask Matured
Review #184 - Springbank 15 Year
Review #172 - Springbank 10 Year
Review #171 - Springbank 18 Year
