Origin: Campbeltown (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50.5%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Rum
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: J & A Mitchell & Co Ltd.
Average price: € 70.00
Official website: springbank.scot
Vote: 89/100
2021 also saw the various Spring festivals dedicated to Scotch whisky take place online: although restrictions have eased in the UK, allowing many of the distilleries’ visitor centres to be open to the public, it was (rightly) not considered appropriate to hold events that would bring many people into attendance.
Hence the Online Tasting Week organised by Springbank, from 10-14 May, which showcased several bottlings not only from the distillery (Springbank, Hazelburn, Glengyle and Longrow) but also samples from a wide range of origins, including Cadenhead’s, Tomatin, Jura, Highland Park and many others.
As always, the distillery presented special bottlings, one for each of its labels: Kilkerran 5yo (in Oloroso), Hazelburn 15yo (in Oloroso), Springbank 8yo (in Bourbon refill and PX) and this Longrow, matured entirely in fresh Rum casks (first fill and never disassembled) resulting in 1025 cask strength bottles.
Tasting notes
Straw yellow in the glass.
The nose expresses intense brown sugar, pear, green apple, pineapple, pine needles, tea leaves, aniseed. Vanilla and caramel also emerge, well integrated in the peat that becomes thin and sinuous, with an impression of sunflower oil. Mellifluous and sunny.
Peppery mouthfeel with peat suspended between herbaceous and toasted on a full-bodied, oily whisky, leaving room for fruit (kiwi, pineapple, apple) and the soft component of vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, sweet liquorice, candied orange peel. There is also a rather pronounced balsamic note, with mentholated touches, along the length.
Quite long finish of black pepper, liquorice, orange, toasted marshmellow.
The risk of long maturation in Rum has paid off handsomely, with a masterful integration of peat and distillate that offers a dram of rare balance and flavour, satisfying for fans of either school.