After so many years there is a core range Longrow 21 Year Old, from the heavily peated production at Springbank distillery. It’s a mix of 60% sherry casks and 40% bourbon.
Longrow 21 yo (46%, OB 2019, 3600 btl.)
Nose: quite subdued. It has old engine aromas, whiffs of gunpowder, wet stones and leather. Hints of sour berry fruits and grapefruit underneath, as well as some toffee and cinnamon powder. Herbal touches and mint.
Mouth: very flinty at first, quite dry, with earthy smoke and a hint of dirty oils. Ginger and sour fruits again. After a while it goes into lovely citrus notes with a chalky edge. Green leafy notes. Roasted almonds and smoked apricots. A light herbal bitterness as well.
Finish: quite long, with mild peat smoke, some menthol, liquorice and walnuts.
Totally unique: you can’t compare this whisky to anything else on the market. Well, except that with its mild peat it’s getting quite close to Springbank. Really good but lacking a bit of oomph perhaps. I like the 18 Years better, which is considerably cheaper as well.
Update: compare to the Longrow 21 Years – 2020 edition