Longrow 21 Year (2001), Cadenhead's
Whisky: Longrow 21 Year (2001), Cadenhead's
Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown
ABV: 44.1%
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
Age: 21 Years (Distilled 2001, Bottled 2023)
Nose: Coastal, beachy, mineral, hints of coconut, dry grass, rubber/plastic, wispy tobacco smoke, slightly grungy and tropical.
Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, tropical citrus, beachy brine and minerals, shortbread and pastries, orange and ginger, dry grass.
Finish: Medium to long with soft maritime brine, citrus, and hints of charred coconut husks.
Score: 7 (85)
Mental Image: Skater Boi at the Beach Park
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was coastal and beachy with soft brine, the sweet minerality of sand baking in the sun, coconut lotions, and woven palm fronds. Poured concrete and burnt rubber appeared, more like a nearby skate park than a drag race, with hints of tobacco and dried grassy fields. Occasionally a touch grungy, it always pulled back toward safer and softer tropical fruits with citrusy pineapple and passionfruit. Medium-bodied and oily, the flavor profile popped with pineapple jam incased in buttery shortbread, passionfruit glazed donuts, and a gingery orange marmalade. A breakfast buffet by the sea with pastries and coconut pudding building into a soft maritime brine, palm fronds, and a drying minerality. The finish was medium to long with soft maritime brine, citrus, and hints of charred coconut husks.
A delightfully mellow and tropical affair, this was a porch whisky if ever there was one— and it is too bad that aged Longrow like this is expensive and rarely available. The alcohol was well-integrated and this drank deceptively smoothly, my glass kept emptying itself far faster than I wanted. While the flavor profile was generally clean and coastal, it turned a bit grungy and dirty at times, especially with hints of rubber and plastic among a minerality that reminded me of a sea side skate park.
Overall, tasty fare, though considering the price on something like this, I want a bit more depth— that said, this was delightful and I would never turn down a dram.
