A Colonial Collective Review | 46% ABV

The next mission for our Colonial Splinter Cell: Campbeltown.

This time, the multinational ragtag group of Colonial whisky reviewers finds something closer to our spiritual Dramface home: the official Longrow Peated.

There are so many ways for an idea like this to unravel. It’s complex to bring together seven Dramface whisky botherers from all over the world to settle down long enough to review the same single whisky, at the same time, that is somehow commonly accessible to us all.

Take for instance the 14-15 time zones that separate us, school, work, children, travel, other life events… But, sometimes serendipity and inspiration come together to galvanise a moment. Maybe it’s a special whisky, maybe it’s the barrier of distance removed thanks to the miracles of technology, maybe it's the camaraderie. Probably it’s all of that.

The last time we gathered, it was for a collab-review of Baker’s 7 Year Old Bourbon from Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. We selected a bourbon because it ticked a few required boxes: It needed to be something that was generally available to most of the team outside of the UK, it needed to be something fairly interesting, and something that most of us hadn’t had before. That bottle reviewed pretty well amongst the group - clocking in at a very respectable 7/10. For our second instalment of the “Colonial Collective Review” we stumbled onto a single malt from Scotland that also surprisingly ticked all the same boxes as the Baker’s. And it’s a Campbeltown malt.

Campbeltown whiskies are not often readily available outside the UK, but as it turns out - and much to our delight - we found one that was available to enough of us Colonials to facilitate another massive collab. We hope you enjoy this cross-sectional analysis of Longrow’s Peated Campbeltown Single Malt.

The original inspiration came from a lucky web browsing of a semi-local liquor store’s online inventory in Colorado. DaveCo happens to be the world’s largest liquor store (certified by the Guiness Book of World Records) and a favourite place to shop. That said, DaveCo is a healthy drive away from where I live. On the map, it is on the opposite city quadrant away from me. I live in the far southwest side of the city, just beyond the city’s imminent suburban limits. DaveCo is on the Northeast side of the city - way out on the High Plains of eastern Colorado. It takes about an hour for me to get there in normal everyday traffic at 70+ mph on open freeways.

While it is a bit of a journey to get there, they’ve done me right twice now. The first time I drove to pick up a Benromach 15 that was on offer at a bargain rate of $45 USD, or about $10 less than other stores sell the 10 year old for. I may have spent that difference in gas picking it up, but I like road trips so it was worth it. This time, upon another casual online inventory review, I stumbled across this Longrow Peated Campbeltown Single Malt.

Startled, I sat up in disbelief. I called to confirm availability suspecting an inventory miscount or maybe a website malfunction. Sure enough, they had a single bottle in stock. I asked them to hold onto it for me and assured them I was on my way. A quick Dramface water-cooler doublecheck had me feeling confident that this was in fact a whisky to pick-up. Within minutes I thrust myself into the worst afternoon rush hour traffic I’ve seen in weeks. What was a normal two hour round trip drive turned out to be three. Once the bottle was firmly in hand I shared a hero-selfie to the other Dramfacers. The team rallied in rousing support and a group review was on.

Not being very familiar with Springbank I thought I’d do some research to get a better impression of Longrow and where it sits in the Springbank story.

Longrow is named after a shuttered Campbeltown distillery which was at one time situated next door to today’s Springbank. It’s the second of three whiskies produced at the Springbank Distillery. Besides the namesake Springbank bottling, they also produce Longrow as their “heavily peated” variation, and the unpeated and triple distilled Hazelburn. Longrow itself is double distilled and the malt is dried over a peat fire for 48 hours resulting in a hefty 50 Phenol Parts per Million (PPM). For comparison, the typical Springbank is peated to a modest 8-10 ppm. Hazelburn is not peated at all. I also found that Springbank’s new-make strength is ~71% ABV while the Longrow’s new-make strength is 68%, alluding to some differences in spirit cuts.

This Longrow bottling represents their no age stated (NAS) version, and is bottled at 46% ABV and is non-chill filtered. While there’s no mention of E150a colouring, I think that it's well known by now that Springbank never use any colourings for any of their whiskies. Lastly, the Peated is matured in a combination of Bourbon and Sherry casks - though there’s no further detail describing the maturation beyond that.

The last time Dramface did a review of Longrow Heavily Peated was in 2022 by Gallie MacOmish and it fared pretty well. She found mustiness, fresh-cut flowers, raisin-like fruits, and the syrupy sweetness of caramel. Since this year’s Longrow review will come at you from six different angles we hope you’ll see a gamut of notes and impressions.

Review 1/7 - Eallair

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 24.02.23 23/47, 46% ABV
US$99 paid, occasional availability

Since Campbeltown (Campbeltownian? Campbeltonian?) whiskies are hard to come by here in the Switzerland of the US, I wanted to go about my review in a way that would perhaps teach me the most:

Take it in for how it stands on its own,
Set up as a blind tasting against a few of its comparables.
Wrap up with a normal tasting against those same few.

I’ve had only two previous experiences with Campbeltown whiskies prior to this: Glen Scotia’s Victoriana and a beautiful bottle of Springbank from 2011’s Wood Expression Series matured in madeira casks. These are stand-out, captivating whiskies who give you lots to think about as you work through the drams. This Longrow is completely new to me however, having never seen one in the wild before. I count myself as a fan of heavily peated whiskies and I love the “Campbeltown Funk” so I have high hopes for this Longrow. I’m crossing my fingers to experience something smokey, oily, and machine-shop-esque maybe?

For the blind I took out the Victoriana, Madeira Springbank, and Port Charlotte 10 to compare the Longrow against.

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*Campfire roasted marshmallow goodness*

Nose

The Longrow steps onto the scene with immediate mentholated marshmallows roasted over an open fire. As a sucker for campfire roasted marshmallows, it hits me square in the whiskyfeels. I breathe deeply.

The more I nose it, the more it evolves into roasted marshmallow cream - leaving the chalky sensations of real marshmallows behind. The peat smoke that comes from Longrow is right up front and centre, though different than the PC10. Whereas, the Port Charlotte’s peat is dramatic and forward like this Longrow, there’s more of an ash and herbal sense about it. The peat from the Longrow integrates with the malt and reminds me of smokey Maillard browning and some charring. There’s also some deliciously engaging TCP style iodine notes from the peat that feel woven in and integrated. A touch of saddle-soap rises up from when the glass is empty.

The comparisons with the Victoriana and Springbank are interesting only because they inform me of what the Longrow is not. There are no similarities shared with the Victoriana’s machine-shop punch and there’s none of the Springbank’s black licorice funk. The nose on the Longrow is cleaner and sweeter, maybe thanks to the ex-bourbon barrels.

Palate

The marshmallow creme and iodine fade to the back. In exchange I get white pepper and malty, honeyed sweetness. Tingles the gums ever so even though the ABV heat is minimal. Fresh cracked black pepper. Unlike a Laphroaig, the TCP bandage notes on the Longrow’s nose do not carry through with the same kind of dominance on the palate. The marshmallow creme combines with a pleasant syrupy fruit cocktail underneath - peeking into view on occasion from behind the Maillard campfire peat.

Being the lightest of my comparison group with only 46% ABV, It’s easy to see what this Longrow is missing: the full effect of its flavour. The oily appearance in the glass isn’t completely mirrored with an extra oily mouthfeel on the palate. The finish fades softly - leaving you with quiet hints of minty peatsmoke. I have a hunch that this Heavily Peated Campbeltown would explode at 50%+ ABV.

The Dregs

This whisky is beguiling and pulls you into its gravity. It’s an interesting and prismatic dram. Reading through the notes below I can see where the others are coming from. It's all there if you spend some time with it.

For me, this whisky sings on the nose. I can spend hours with it in the glass only occasionally stealing away a wee sip. Even when compared against its cohort, the nose stands up and remains captivating. Where it falls short is when it is set up in comparison to the other whiskies, perhaps unfairly due to the ABV disadvantage. But this is where the score helps explain my overall summary.

This NAS Longrow is a 6, maybe a 7. It's a delicious dram that I’m so happy to have found and it helps to shed more light on the Campbeltown flavour experience. But, the cost in finding this whisky in Colorado imparts a handicap to its value. I paid about $100 USD which is about the same price as the Victoriana. While both deserve a place in my personal whisky cabinet, the Victoriana’s flavour train ultimately delivers more for the dollar.

This would be perma-shelf perfection at a price closer to its original $60 or so USD, but at $100 there’s just too many rarities yet to discover. Would I buy this again? Absolutely. Maybe not right away, but in a few years after I’ve been around the whiskyverse a few more passes and need to restock a core peated malt.

Score: 6/10 EMc

Review 2/7 - Broddy

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 01.07.22, 46% ABV
CAD$100-110 routinely, spotty availability in Canada

My first Longrow in over three years. It’s usually here and gone so fast that I hadn’t managed to pick one up but luckily, a friend generously lent me this bottle to put my thoughts down for this Colonial Splinter Cell collab.

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*Quality, lime zested, C-town stud*

Nose

Quite effusive, letting me know I poured something peated from a few feet away. Lovely balanced coal smoke, light earthy peat, and lemon-lime citrus notes. Some lovely old golden oaky notes too. Bromophenol (iodine) and old oily rags are quite hidden under these big top notes. The nose has a moderate amount of sweetness too, resolving into generic sweet baked goods.

Palate

Soft entry before building into a full-on rush of flavours, a surprise after the heavy-peated nose had led me to believe.

Sweet white-fleshed fruits with a lime/citric acidity leads into a building dry peat/wood smoke and a light touch of iodine, before settling into a peppery second-half anchored with an icing sugar, vanilla creme, and citrus acidity that causes me to continuously salivate. The mouthfeel is creamy and lightly oily, refusing to dislodge itself, with a lovely half-life of sweet and dry peat accented with black pepper and lime accents.

Thick gloopy tendrils cling to the glass sides, providing a lovely refraction to the golden liquid inside.

The Dregs

Better than I remember. Dang, I’ll have to make more of a concerted effort to get my hands on a bottle of this.

Is this a 6 or a 7? While it is a quality dram, the intermittent availability and elevated Campbeltown prices relegate this to a 6. After a blind mystery sample from our very own Nick Fleming on a recent Colonial Zoom call, in which he snuck in a Kirkland Islay NAS single malt (which is a sub-$60 very likely Caol Ila beauty) into the mix following a 20+ year old Dailuiane, I was reminded of how good other NAS peated whiskies could be.

The competition in the sub-$110 price point is stiff and means this should be a very solid 6/10.

Score: 6/10 BB

Review 3/7 - Nick

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 18.06.21, 46% ABV
USD$90 paid, occasional availability in NYC

If you’re still of the view that non-age statement whiskies are somehow not as good as those with numbers on the bottle then I suggest you have a little chat with this Longrow. Like certain other Campbeltown NAS releases (Glen Scotia Victoriana and the Kilkerran Heavily Peated releases come to mind), this whisky kinda knocks that whole notion (which surely is losing favour by now?) well and truly on the head.

Drink on and savour the fact that age doesn’t define a whisky any more than it defines you.

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*Smokey, oaky, fruity and feisty*

Nose

Surprisingly bold and astringent nose for 46%.

Fruit. Pear and peaches. And a banana walked past with his skin peeled open to the chest.

Creosote. Saddle soap. New leather. Dank earth or farmyard. Burnt sugar.

All of this is shrouded in smoke from a bonfire of gorse bushes and pine boughs. Lots of resin in that smoke.

After about an hour in the glass it calms down just a touch and though still feisty, there’s a creamy quality coming through on the nose. And some orange oil.

It rewards time spent with your nose in the glass. No hurry here.

Palate

Smokey, oaky and fruity all at once. And definitely feisty.

The smoke is much more present on the palate than on the nose. The oak notes carry a distinct suggestion of char and some ash. Or maybe that’s the smoke. No matter.

Slightly dry mouthfeel. Definite rising pepper from the mid palate on. Black pepper I think.

There’s an oiliness on the palate but it doesn’t really have that texture.

Green vegetal notes – but it’s damp slightly salty vegetation that suggests compost or rotting leaves on a dank forest floor – maybe these are the earthy, farmyard notes I got on the nose.

The fruit is there but as a background note. Still peaches but now a little more soft citrus – orange rather than lemon.

And the ash is hanging on throughout as if it’s lightly dusted on all the other components in the salty sea breeze. A nice touch of sulphur too. Struck match or spent fireworks.

The finish is pretty long and decidedly dry and woody with just the faintest hint of menthol amid the smoke.

The Dregs

This drinks well for a 46% ABV. I suspect if it was in a blind tasting I would have pegged it at 50-52%. Which speaks both to the character of the whisky and to my own ineptitude.

I recall the last bottle of this I had disappeared pretty quickly. I think because it’s not only a really well put together dram with lots going on, but it’s also got its own character. If your notion of peated whiskies has been dominated by the likes of the Islay heavy hitters like Ardbeg, Laphroaig or Lagavulin, then the Longrow shows a different side of the coin.

This is much less medicinal and briny for me than standard issue Islay. This leans more to the wood and the charred side of things. And it does it bloody well too. I wonder what it would actually taste like at 52%.

Either way, it goes beautifully with an aged gouda or a manchego.

Score: 6/10 NF

Review 4/7 - Aengus

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 13.06.23, 46% ABV
CAD$110 paid, occasional availability

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*An easy well integrated summer peater*

Nose

Honey and nicely balanced charismatic peat. Lemon oil, band aids, slightly grassy. Someone’s cutting grass somewhere. Damp musty stones. Sweet creamy vanilla custard.

Palate

The palate lacks a bit of grip after that intriguing nose. Initially there is a brief but sweet entry with vanilla and iodine. Then astringency and a short finish take over. The peat is well integrated as well on the palate and adds some needed seasoning. After some time in the glass more sweetness emerges, with cereal sugars, butter pastry, watermelon and blue raspberry candy, and a slight wineyness.

The Dregs

After at least several bottlings over several years, I tend to think of the NAS Longrow as probably the worst of Springbank’s entry level official single malts. Although that’s not knocking the Longrow because both Springbank and Hazelburn 10 year olds are fantastic. In fact, Longrow NAS was one of three scotch whiskies I stocked my wedding bar with last year. From memory, this 2023 bottling is a good bit more enjoyable from the one I had last summer. This is the one offering from Springbank distillery that I can semi-regularly get my hands on here in Ontario.

So far this summer season I seem to be drinking a more than usual amount of peated whiskies. The Longrow, with its sweetness and nicely balanced nose is perfect for summer sipping, no need to wait for the chill of autumn. One that I would buy (and have) again and again.

Score: 6/10 AMc

Review 5/7 - Ogilvie

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 13.06.23, 46% ABV
£40 paid via auction (plus fees & shipping), no availability in NC

Longrow Peated NAS was the first unicorn I was able to find and purchase. At the beginning of my whisky journey I fully immersed myself in learning. The cost of tuition to earn my whiskey geek cap was full immersion in reading, watching, tasting, and conversing. I read books, sampled bottles, read articles and reams of reviews, and watched countless hours of whiskey talk and tastings online. Ralfy might as well have been my neighbour, I saw him so often. I am sure you get the idea.

And yet, I was living in Connecticut and it was difficult finding Scotch single malts – especially anything from Campbeltown. Those were my unicorns.

And then one day, while on a bottle hunt, to my huge surprise I found a Longrow. By itself. A single bottle. No replacements. It looked out of place. I stopped – as if I feared sudden movement would make the apparition disappear. I instinctively looked to my left and right to ensure that there was no one else coming to lay a hand on this bottle. To my great happiness, I was able to snag the bottle. I brought it home and enjoyed it. Really enjoyed it. It was spectacular and like nothing I’d ever experienced.

Now, years later, my palate has expanded exponentially. I have experienced many tremendous whiskies. I have had Bunnahabhain straight from the cask. Benromach’s cask strength was a delight. Balcones Texas 1 Single Malt was an eye-opener. But not another Longrow has been seen in the wild. No matter, as I have been spoiled with so many wonderful whiskies since that first Longrow.

And so it came to be that the Colonials splinter cell agreed to another joint review, and we all selected the Longrow peated NAS. The memories of that first Campbeltown bottle came flooding back. I was eager to get a hold of another bottle and participate, but how? I live in a single malt desert.

Fortunately, at that time the Colonials agreed on Longrow, I knew I could bag another bottle as I was entering a UK auction. The odds were with me as I see them often and plentiful on these auction sites. Ultimately, my mission was accomplished, and I managed to secure my second Longrow. Now, with it in front of me, I wonder if this bottle can carry the water of my memories of that first Campbeltown experience.

Score: 7/10

**Very good indeed.**
***TL;DR***
*A tamed – but still wonderful – unicorn*

Nose

Sweet smoke. The peat is masterfully present. Not a slap in the face, not acrid, not peppery, not an ashtray. Nor is it something that is a side note. It is industrial but tame. Coal and oily smoke, but fully and skilfully incorporated into a nose that is creamy. A bit of marshmallow, a hint of spice and lemon in the background. There is something present that I can’t put my finger on as a definitive flavour, but despite my nose not being able to make a precise identification, it is wonderful and carries a smooth hint of maltiness. No alcohol burn on the nose at all. Sweet and oily smoke intertwined with creamy, luscious flavours.

Palate

Just as with the nose, the initial flavour profile that greets me is well balanced. The sweet peat meets with slight custard and spice. The mid-palate has the peat giving ebbing a shade as compared to the spices and other sweet flavours such as Boston Creme filling and toasted marshmallow. The citrus note from the nose is here, but very subtle and complimentary. Lemon curd. This dram, even at 46%, has a certain oiliness and heft. The finish brings a bit of the alcohol to the party, but the sweet, balanced flavours continue well. Not a long finish, but not short, either. Adding a drop of water to the glass opens the flavours up and rounds out the alcohol at the finish. A simply wonderful dram.

The Dregs

This bottle has brought back memories. I have to admit, however, that my confetti-strewn memories of my first Longrow are not here. This isn’t an 8 or 9/10 whisky. Now that I have gone years down the whisky trail (aka rabbit hole), I have been spoiled with many bottles and the bell curve has shifted. This had previously been a unicorn, and it remains with high esteem, but perhaps now in my eyes it is considered to be somewhat of a tamed unicorn. All that said, however, this is still particularly good, rich, and flavorful, without doubt. But, my memories of my first Longrow have been a bit tempered.

Unfortunately, trying to find a Longrow on the shelves is a bit problematic on these shores. The cost is also a bit prohibitive, truth be told. I bagged this for a reasonable £40, but with shipping costs, the cost of this bottle all but doubled. Not sure I will buy another if I can’t find it at a more reasonable price.

Factoring in price and availability, this might be knocked down to a 6/10, but damn it – the flavours and the texture are tremendous. I’ll stick to a 7/10, and ride this tamed unicorn into the sunset.

Score: 7/10 OS

Review 6/7 - Calder

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 11.01.21, 46% ABV
AUS$86 paid, occasional availability

The tides are constantly turning on no age stated whiskies, one day they are the panacea to the overpriced under-oaked bottlings with numerical clout, the next they’re a spitoon of young unloved casks that are overmarketed with an unpronounceable name. My sweet spot for these NAS bottlings lies in two niches; a well vatted/blended expression of a pattern of flavours a distillery or bottler enjoys communicating to the consumer or a solid balanced entry point for the uncertain and unfussy. The Longrow Peated comfortably fits in the latter of those categories, a smoky, sweet, savoury appetiser for the banquet of flavour one can discover at Springbank. Or at least it should be, sadly it may also be the only option. The Tudor Black Bay among the collection of Rolexes as every other Longrow (Red, 18, 21) are only available through luck, nepotism, or a mixture of both. But enough of beating that same old drum, let’s appreciate the whisky we have been able to secure and enjoy a pour.

Score: 7/10

**Very good indeed.**
***TL;DR***
*NAS isn’t always a dirty word, but it can be a deliciously dirty whisky*

Nose

Like smell-O-vision for a Mad Max movie; engine smoke and diesel fumes leading to a post apocalyptic BBQ with caramelised onions and sausage grease. Time in the glass reveals the sweeter side of Longrow; freshly baked buttercake and sliced Granny Smith apples with a side of Chardonnay. The tease of a charcuterie platter over time with slices of mortadella and Comte cheese.

Palate

Time to celebrate Lunar New Year with yellow rock sugar, crispy shallots and mixed ham Banh Mi. The asian flavours continue with salted duck yolk pastries, moon cakes and custard bao. Adding a few drops of water brings out the fruitiness of this spirit; unripe pears, custard apples and lemon sherbet, paired with the now definite peat tasting like burnt caramel marshmallow.

The Dregs

Campbeltown whiskies always bring out the Eastern tasting notes from my flavour wheel, I automatically start to crave Yum Cha or a Cantonese stir fry banquet. The prominent umami savoury notes tied to the wok hei aromatic smoke takes me instantly to Chinatown. A NAS whisky that can communicate a sense of place and flavour so strongly is a success. There has been thought put into the vatting of this whisky, not just a dumping ground for confused casks or for a quick sell for young spirit. I would be surprised if there was a high percentage of anything younger than eight years old in this whisky. Distilleries take note, this isn’t just a no-age statement, it’s a statement of spirit, cask management, and pure bloody good tasting whisky.

Score: 7/10 CD

Review 7/7 - Tyree

Longrow Peated, NAS Single Malt, Bottle code: 18.06.21, 46% ABV
AUS$110 paid, Usually AUD$160-ish with occasional availability

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*Fishy, funky excellence*

Nose

Just a top start. Fish sauce, freshly smoked kippers, straight phenol blended with a nice benzene/petrochemical sweetness, fresh yeast slurry, a little of the characteristic sulfidic Springbank funk (for brevity, consult this article for context) and perhaps a scooch of toasty Maillard character like toasted sourdough. Air reveals a touch of petrichor, some terpenic savoury-herb aspects, a touch of sweet/spicy horse dung and a smidge of wet gravel. There’s a little fruit in the mix, but a more restrained ester character than something like the Springbank 10.

Palate

Pretty reflective of the nose, though there’s a bit more oak spice and vanillin in support and a very pleasing worty maltiness. The peat is lovely; more fish sauce, kippers and petrochemicals, but it picks up a pleasing ash/charcoal quality too. The sulfidic aspects are comparatively restrained, probably due to the huge wave of peat vying for attention, though a little farmyard is retained too. We start to see some of the later cuts needed for the phenols as well, with just a smidge of younger tails character in the mix a la cheddar cheese, but it’s not out of place in the composition. Hints of lemon oil and herbs through retronasal, plus some good white pepper and a little peachy fruitiness.

The Dregs

If I could make just one wish, it would be that we could get a higher ABV, circa 10yo version of this bottling. That’s not to say that this is lacking, only that I feel a cask strength (or thereabouts) bottling would carry an outstanding intensity on the palate, and that with a bit more age we could start to see a bit more of the pronounced ester character we expect from the Springbank bottlings. I went back and forth for a while on the scoring here; this is uncomfortably between a 6 & 7 in my books. I tend to err on the lower side generally, feeling that whisky should motivate one to want to score it well. Also, the residual tails character, although not unpleasant in this context, could probably have been better utilised via esterification in a more mature bottling, just my own opinion, so a fraction of a point shaved off for lost potential. Accordingly, I’ll opt for the lower value, but really it was balanced on a razor’s edge.

Note: I wrote this before reading any of my co-writers reviews, and was pleased to see that Broddy struggled to judge this in a similar manner. Great minds on his behalf at the very least!

Score: 6/10 TK

Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. EMc

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