I know some says there's 55PPM in Longrow, I guess it probably varies, but always stays at around 50PPM. PPM means "parts per million" and is the scale the distillers uses to define how much peat there is in a whisky. 0PPM is the Hazelburn, a non-peated Springbank, both Hazelburn and Longrow will be tasted today alongside some Springbanks.
Hazelburn 12yo 46% OB
This is the most current version of Hazelburn, as Springbank pretty recently started putting non-peated whisky on the market. Golden amber color. It smells peppery, oaky, burnt, almost a bit vile, I definitely wasn't expecting this. Almost some coastal notes, Old Pulteney is coming to mind. Some grassy and herbal notes too. The taste is on pecan nuts, peppery and spicy, cumin, ginger, yeasty, needs some water to open up I think. It becomes sweeter, more mellow, apricots, peaches, honey, spicy, red paprika, prickles down the throat. A small monster in its own way.
Kicks more than the recent Longrows and Springbanks I've tried: 5.5
Springbank 13yo 1996-2009 57.1% OB for Milano Whisky Festival 2009 cask#264
I've only tried a Glenlivet for the Milano Whisky Festival before, but since as they get their bottlings from the more reputed distilleries in Scotland it seems a festival to take note of. This one comes from a fino sherry cask. Orange/amber hue. It smells of wheat, pine wood, orange zest, cinnamon, bacon, smoky. The taste is burnt, hot cinnamon, red bell peppers, chili, lime, and, I must tell you right now, a nutty aftertaste that sits for a very long time. Hot cinnamon on the palate and an ever-long finish on sweet nutty notes. I could probably dig up some more notes on this one, but that would only be the background choir on this concert.
Extremely rich and good fino-casked whisky, a whisky with a temper: 8.5
Springbank 19yo 1992-2011 46% Berry Bros & Rudd cask#61
The label calls this one "Peat-Smoked", perhaps its a camouflaged Longrow? I imagine this very pale whisky comes from a bourbon cask of some kind. It smells of peaty, wheat, orange zest, lemon, meringue, vanilla, smoky, oaky, vegetable broth, caramel. The taste is sweet, vanilla, sour notes, lemon, sour cream, carrots, vanilla mints, peppermint, very sweet and light, and not peaty at all in my mouth. This is light and easy Springbank, not one of my favs I'm afraid.
If tasted blind I's say this was a Bladnoch or Tomintoul: 4
Longrow NAS 46% OB
No age statement on this one, but peated whiskies aren't usually as depended on a lot of time in wood as non-peated whisky. Many young Laphroaigs has proved that over the years, and now the young Octomores and Port Charlottes does exactly the same. The color is light hazy golden. It smells of peaty, peppery notes, Old Ballantruan? Pine wood, olive oil, grassy, peat, chlorine, sweet and bitter, lemongrass, papaya, lime and caramel, intriguing. The taste is sweet, peppery, aniseeds, grassy, quite bitter, more than peaty. I wish this whisky wasn't so "obviously young". I got the same sensation while tasting the Kilchoman 2010 Winter the other day.
This whisky is not nearly matured for long enough: 3
Springbank 23yo 53.7% James MacArthur's cask3226
I've already tried 2cl of this version some years ago, lets give it another shot. The color is golden. It smells of heather, mint, caramel, ashes, fresh, vegetal, green apples and tzatziki, even curry. Excellent Springbank thus far. The taste is of sweet licorice, almonds, marzipan, menthol, lemon drops, peppery, leather, mint leaves, grassy, horseradish, strong but not oaky or peppery, gentle, firm and strong, a whisky that has it all, really.
Great stuff, a natural and fresh Springbank: 8
Springbank 39yo 1969-2008 57.8% Chieftain's Choice cask#794
This is about the oldest Springbank I've ever had, should be interesting. From a sherry butt. Golden color. It smells of honey, butterscotch, peppery, flinty, bitter limes, rounded and superb, again these fresh minty hints of thyme, mint leaves and basil, fresh indeed. The taste is sweet, zest, fresh fruits, oranges, beetroots, pineapple, lime, watermelon, kiwi, pears, just about as fruity as a whisky gets. The finish is drying, peppery and very long.
Superb stuff, just like the JMcA: 8
Springbank 10yo 1995-2001 58.4% Blackadder Raw Cask cask#139
From a sherry pipe, only reaching a number of 144 bottles. A small amontillado butt, or cask if you like then. The color is amber. It smells sweet, stewed onions, garlic, pistachio, onions, peat, caramel, dark chocolate. The taste is bittersweet, coconuts, oily, flinty, pineapples, quite a bit of bitter-fruityness in this one. Even more gingerbread, pears, peaches, figs, raisins, sweet fruits. About as perfect as it gets at this age. A Superb Springbank.
One of the most underestimated IB's out there: 8.5
Next tasting: Ardmore Distillery
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