Longrow 1974

A distillery bottling of Longrow, a 25 year old Campbeltown malt from 1974 and bottled at 46%. The Springbank distillery, in Mitchell family hands since 1828, is a byword for traditional Scotch whisky making. Campbeltown was its own protected whisky region long before the revival.

The make was distilled twice from barley floor malted and peated hard, and slowly worm tub cooled. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the spirit. Long ageing brings an oily depth, candied fruit and a mellow coastal salt. The hands on, small scale working shapes a spirit of real individuality. The open larch washbacks are a rare survival in modern Scotch. The distillery has become a place of pilgrimage for whisky enthusiasts. Kintyre's damp, mild climate suits a long and gentle maturation. The old town of Campbeltown once rivalled Speyside as Scotland's whisky heart. Quality and tradition, not volume, have always been the watchwords here.

At an easy 46% it is gentle. Smoke, tar and an oily maritime depth ride on vanilla, cream and light coconut. It is rich and layered, the fruit and salt well matched. A long finish smoulders on salt and oil. This is Longrow, the heavily peated Campbeltown malt.