Whisky: Longrow 15 Year (2001) for Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits

Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV: 55.6%

Cask: Refill Bourbon (6Y), Refill Chardonnay (9Y)

Age: 15 Years (Distilled Oct. 2001, Bottled Sept. 2017)

Nose: Fruit and smoke with earthy undertones, hints of musty dried grass on the farm lingered behind grilled peaches and pineapple; wispy smoke accented the fruits with hints of a maritime barbecue.

Palate: Medium-bodied and oily with grilled fruits, acrid charcoal grill smoke, dirty iron grill grates, hints of sulfur, dried grass, and mellow earth, a kiss of salt in the background with vanilla and charred orange rind, more metallic bite with time.

Finish: Medium-length and drying with hints of grill smoke, earth, and fruit.

Score: 5-6

Mental Image: Post-Apocalyptic Luau

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was funkier and earthier than any previous chardonnay Longrow I have tried. I was expecting something much fruitier with subtle smoke and sweet caramelization, but that is the magic of the single cask. Two siblings can be born and switched to chardonnay casks at the same time, yet turn out very differently. While I did not find the fruits I wanted, I enjoyed the earthy and grassy elements, which sometimes lent this an unexpected barnyard quality, especially when hints of sulfur materialized. The slightly acrid grill elements and the metallic bite on the palate sat a bit askew from the rest of the notes but not entirely unwelcome. The flavors may not have always been well-integrated, but they were generally respectful of one another, and there was no major clashing or muddling.

In a vacuum, I thought this was a fun and interesting variation on the Longrow profile. Yet, when I put it in a lineup with some similar-aged and older Longrow, its shortcomings, especially a lack of vibrancy, became more apparent and harder to ignore. While it maintained the classic metallic bite I get from Springbank, it lacked any liveliness on the palate.

Overall, I am still bullish on these chardonnay Longrow, and I loved some of the other casks from this series. This cask was not my favorite of the lot, but it certainly was not dull, and I would never turn down a pour.

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer