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Longrow Peated

Grandma's Basement Jam & Pickle Pantry.

7 687

@cricklewoodReview by @cricklewood

7th Apr 2020

0

Longrow Peated
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    21
  • Overall
    87

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

As it stands currently the standard line up of Longrow consist of the NAS Heavily Peated, an 18 yr old & a 21yr old.

Now this NAS version came out sometime in 2011-2012, it is said to have replaced the Longrow CV which was also NAS and purported to contain a vatting of different ages and cask types, (bourbon, refill, sherry, port & rum) as a way to show off the profile of Longrow in a price friendly package. Some have speculated that this new version is younger than its predecessor, spokesmen for Springbank claim it is essentially the same recipe with an updated package.

I haven't had the pleasure of anything but the Hazelburn CV, so will likely never know.

Nose: Mossy peat, burnt grain, damp basement. A feeling of sherry cask influence, you know that creamy, yeast & dried fruit thing. With time green fruits, gooseberry, apple, Italian Mostarda (mustard pickled fruit), a slight minty or herbal edge. Lastly a bit of dry smoke.

Palate: Sweet, sour, ginger, loads of paraffin, greasy smoke and dirt basement floor. Lemon peel, grains, mineral & gravel, a salty edge too, a touch of olive oil & vanilla frosting.

Finish: Oily & earthy, musky fruits & mineral. The oak is light and drying, there is definitely a coastal briny edge to it.

Notes: Good uncompromising stuff, I was not expecting it to be this good, it doesn't get a lot of hype like all the other versions but I honestly loved this. I would definitely consider picking up a bottle if I come across one.

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6 comments

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

I think this would get a lot more hype & general attention if it was branded as something like "Longrow 6" or whatever. The NAS labeling really makes it seem less important. Maybe that's just me.

As for the comparison to the old CV, I did a side-by-side with specimens of each a few years ago, and they were pretty darn similar. Not identical, but closer than (say) two different batches of Springbank 10 can be. In my opinion, the CV was quite good, the current "Peated" is quite good, and you're not missing anything today. That said, grab an old CV if you find one collecting dust anywhere. :)

4 years ago 5Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

I keep passing this one by for the same reason stated by @MadSingleMalt. I had the old CV years ago and liked it, so if this one is similar I might give it a try. I suspect it is younger than 8 years old, or they might be more inclined to give it an age statement. Nice review, thanks.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

@BlueNote, if my memory serves, the "Peated" is just bit brighter than than the old CV was.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@MadSingleMalt Indeed perhaps it needs a zippier title to it. I am unsure if an age statement is really the ticket though, those Longrow Reds could be NAS and people would still buy them. Maybe with a name like "exceptional casks" "rare casks" oh wait I think that's already been used elsewhere laughing

I believe it's not so much it's youth but the vatting of casks because event the CV had young stuff in it. I believe the breakdown was something like this. 6 YO ex-bourbon casks, 10 YO port & rum casks and 14 YO sherry casks. likely refill on the port, rum and sherry.

I remember reading somewhere that they only lay down 150 casks of Longrow per year, so a vatting like this makes sense to stretch ressources further than sticking to a mandatory age statement, although they could just slap a 5, 6 or 7 on it and folks would likely buy it.

@BlueNote you getting it from KWM or locally? Let me know how you get along with it.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@cricklewood Getting it from Craft Cellars. They’re having a quickie pre Easter sale. Four of us local malt heads had no trouble coming up with a 12 bottle order. It could be a long siege. I’ll let you know the verdict when it arrives.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

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