Longrow is a single malt range of whisky that is produced by the legendary Springbank distillery. Springbank’s small yet mighty distillery produces three different whiskies — Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn. Longrow Peated expression is the only core product within their range and is partnered with regular releases of limited editions. It is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV without added colouring or chill-filtration.
Springbank Distillery is located in the seaside town of Campbeltown, which is found on a narrow spit of land that is on the west Highland coast of Scotland. It is the oldest whisky distillery in Scotland to have been continuously owned by the same family, the Mitchells, since 1837. It was, however, set up slightly earlier in 1828 by the Reid family who were related to the Mitchell’s by marriage. Springbank is owned by J&A Mitchell and Sons.
Springbank has a small capacity with a maximum annual production of 750,000 litres. It has a very traditional hands-on production process with limited usage of technology. Even more surprisingly, it is one of very few distilleries to undertake all steps of the whisky production process on their own site, including malting the barley, distillation, maturation and bottling.
Longrow takes its name from a former Campbeltown distillery that was next to Springbank, however this closed in 1896. Part of that distillery remains. Albeit converted into Springbank’s bottling plant. Longrow was first produced in 1973 to provide a more heavily peated, oily and robust component to a whisky blend being created at that time.
Springbank Distillery
Springbank produce three different whiskies at the distillery. The first, released under the Springbank name, is lightly peated (around 15ppm) and is distilled two and a half times. This means that the spirit is distilled twice but some spirit is allowed to drain back in to the still. Therefore distilled almost, but not quite, for a third time. The second takes the name Longrow. This whisky is heavily peated (about 55ppm) and is twice distilled. The third is named Hazelburn. Distinctly it is is completely unpeated (0ppm) and distilled three times. It is the rarest of the three and bottles can be hard to come by. The production is split throughout the year with on average 80% of the time going to Springbank, 10% to Longrow and 10% to Hazelburn.
Longrow Peated is available at certain times of the year to buy from Cadenhead’s shop (which is owned by J & A Mitchell) or from selected specialist whisky retailers for £50.
Our Tasting Notes
This whisky is pale yellow in colour. It has a powerfully smoky character on the nose that is balanced by fresh herbal notes and sweet toffee. Longrow’s style of smoke is characterised by sooty and ashy peat. It manages to be bold while holding on to delicate notes at the same time. There are sweet notes of toffee and brown sugar, plus sweet malty oat biscuits and vanilla custard. There are herbal notes of newly mown green hay and some gooseberry sourness. All rounded off by some gently spicy grounded white pepper and a subtle honeysuckle floral note
On the palate this whisky provides a sweet malty burst to match its ashy smokiness. It is oily and viscous. There are flavours of sooty peat smoke, candied lemon, green apples and big plump juicy sultanas. There is patisserie sweetened vanilla custard, toffee apples, malty biscuits and toasted marshmallow, as if it they have been roasted over a bonfire. A refreshing bittersweet gooseberry and rhubarb herbal character appears towards the finish.
On the finish there are also plenty of old store cupboard dusty spices such as all-spice and nutmeg. This is met with crystalised sugar. Afterwards you may get a floral hit, like Parma violet. At all times the sooty ashy smoke wafts around your palate lending a mouth-watering and slightly tannic dryness.
What’s The Verdict?
Longrow Peated is an exceptional whisky for the money you will be charged to acquire a bottle. It gives many Islay whiskies (that cost quite a bit more) a great deal to think about. In the final analysis, if you haven’t tried a Campbeltown whisky before and like a bit of peaty smoke, we can’t recommend this highly enough.
Below is a video review of Longrow Peated from our Allotment Dram series. To watch other such videos or subscribe to our YouTube channel – click here.
