Longrow 21 Year Old 2019 Release

A little background

Longrow and Springbank rouses the discerning palates and lovers of old style scotch. Polarizing in its nature to the core – Longrow/Springbank makes no apologies for that. Old world scotch in a new world full of snowflake whiskies, this is an orchestra of beautiful stench.

Longrow: Father, It has been decades since my last 21 Year Old expression.

Whisky Gods: It’s About Damn Time!

That is how this conversation went down.

This Longrow 21 year old release is 60% Sherry cask, 40%Bourbon Cask and is bottled at 45% ABV.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Mahogany

Nose

Sweetness and flint hits you in the face like a smack. Rose water and a perfume, I believe I am smelling a rosewater smell. Notes of gunpowder and hot stones by a river side are present. Vanilla, Coconut and a definite sherry influence is noticeable.

Jam, condensed fruit perhaps like a Plum, Blackberry or Boysenberry jam.

Cinnamon and a woft of peat and smoke is very present, I would say more smoke than peat. What I am loving about this is that ‘Funk’ – Funky, Damp earthiness, Dunnage, Mossy smell. Fungal and Foosty. The more you smell the more it reveals – Which is probably some famous last words but you start to get slapped in the face with a 12 inch Salami, Meaty and Fatty. Oh yeah!

With Water: Not much changes but more sweetness and Floral comes through.

Sweetness comes through a lot more, sugary and brown sugar with caramel. Sugar Syrup. The Smoke gets tamed a tad with water. You get to smell more fruitcake as well, Dunnage smell, that foosty smell comes through more. The water tends to pronounce certain notes more.

Palate

Oh My – Oh My – I think I am getting a bit overexcited.

Funky, flinty and it is a dirty dirty whisky! So dirty, like Prince Andrew Dirty (too soon?) Robust flavour profile and very complex, There is a lot going on there.

Spice, candied ginger, Fruitcake with cinnamon and some chalkiness with a hint of bitterness at the end of the palate. Smoke wofts through the back of the palate, The spirit permeates into a mouthful. Chewy and full, great mouthfeel.

With Water: The smokiness comes through more, A bit sweeter with water. Bitterness at the end subsides, Funkiness is more pronounced which is great. The flavour does not change too much just slight variation.

Finish

Not as long and oily as other Longrows but a very complex dram, medium to long finish. With water the finish becomes longer.

In closing

Longrow 21 Year not disappoint. This whisky is great, it’s thought provoking and a pleasure. One of the most anticipated bottles of 2019, I would encourage anyone to get their hands on it, even if you have to do immoral things! Because it is worth it!

I would say start with no water and put a few drops halfway through to progress it. 46% should not need water but it is always interesting to see the difference. This whisky stinks in the best possible way!