Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Malt Mission 2007 #138


Longrow 10yo, 100 Proof
Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
57% abv
£39.50

Spingbank Distillery produces three different styles of malt whisky on the same site, each having different phenolic contents (peat levels) measured in parts per million (ppm) and each using slightly different distillation methods: Springbank is a 12-15ppm expression, distilled two and a half times, Hazelburn is a completely unpeated malt distilled three times, and this style, Longrow, is distilled twice and around 50-55 ppm using malt peat kilned for 36-48 hours. Older expressions are peatier because the kilning used to be 55 hours.

The original Longrow distillery was built in Campbeltown in 1824 and was closed in 1896. The distillery was demolished and the site is now occupied by Springbank's car park and one of the remaining warehouses is still used for storing whisky.

The first distillation of Longrow at Springbank was in 1973. This 100 proof version was released in 2006.

TASTING NOTES:

Lemongrass, salt and prawns; a very Thai impression. Peppery cocktail salts, lime and oat cakes.

Vanilla that gets gobbled up by the salty/peppery character with smoke and a pleasant chewiness. Coal. Lingering oak and smoke. Lip-smacking.

SUMMARY:

Thick, proud, and showing no intentions to behave in public. Really quite exhilarating with that citrus, salt and pepper zing often found in tequila. But don't get me wrong, this is clearly a malt-based spirit. Delicious and refreshing. The margarita of malt whiskies.

Malt Mission #136
Malt Mission #137
Malt Mission #139
Malt Mission #140

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