Longrow 18 Years Old (46%)

An official Longrow single malt, an 18 year old Campbeltown malt and bottled at 46%. Just 2280 bottles were filled. Springbank, distilling since 1828 in Campbeltown, is a cult Campbeltown distillery with a devoted following. Concerto barley is malted on the floors and kilned in the distillery's own kiln.

This was made by double distillation of heavily peated Campbeltown malt, then cooled slowly in worm tubs. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. Past a decade the oily spirit deepens, fruit and salt knitting with the oak. The cool, damp Campbeltown air by the sea gives a slow, even maturation. Few distilleries keep so much of the old craft alive under one roof. Campbeltown was once the whisky capital of the world, with more than thirty distilleries at its peak. Today just three distilleries survive in the old Kintyre whisky town. The maritime warehouses by the sea lend the malt its briny, oily depth.

At 46% it is supple and briny. Heavy smoke over brine and wax ride on vanilla, cream and light coconut. The texture is rich and oily, the salt threaded through. A warming, oily finish lingers long. This is Longrow, the heavily peated Campbeltown malt.