Another edition of Longrow's popular Red range, this time featuring 11 year old whisky matured in fresh port casks, giving it a rosy hue and vibrant fruit notes alongside the classic aromas of well-peated Campbeltown single malt.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
Ive been through a few bottles this year but the Longrow Red Fresh Port Cask is clearly the best. Although Peated, the peat and smoke definitely take a back seat here to the fresh, smooth, rich port which is front and centre. Some of the bottlings from springbank can be quite raw and rough around the edges and at 51.8 I did wonder if this would carry over the same characteristics like with some of the springbank cask strength releases but its far from it. I would definitely recommend opening and leaving for a day or so its very young and eager when first opened but half way down the bottle it settled into a wonderfully balanced Dram with a deep but subtle smoky finish and that vibrant port nose. simple wonderful stuff
After the disappointing Cabernet Sauvignon, it was only the introduction of port to the typically solid Longrow that made me have to try this. Its got that deep down raw base that all Springbanks have, there's something underlying that revives memories of the cask strength Springbanks here. the nose is all but Peat free there is a strong and sweet smell of port laced with dusty oak and syrupy fruits. The nose has a long finish unearthing slight liquorice tones as. On the palate unlike the tasting notes there is only a hint of peat here, the port and oak front and centre, the rich fruit flavours developing and then giving way to a fantastic long port finish, with the hints of liquorice pushing through again, just a hint of peat. Unlike other Springbanks at this strength, the spirit isn't overpowering although a teaspoon or two of water really opens this up into something stunning. One of my most memorable whiskies of 2014 grab it before its gone!
stand out whisky for me at the Midlands whisky festival .
