Longrow 18 year old Single Malt Review

I’m going to just come out and say, I’m a fan of Longrow. Not necessarily the special editions like the Red series but just the bog standard, entry level Longrow. I’m pretty much consistently impressed with it and would argue it offers a much better ‘peated’ experience than some of the Islay big boys such as Laphroaig, Bowmore or even Lagavulin (that’s me blacklisted by Beam Suntory and Diageo for another year). 

It also helps that its priced around the £50 mark, a little more expensive than the Bowmore 12 or Laphroaig 10, roughly £41 each, but quite a bit cheaper than the Lagavulin 8 which is retailing at over £60 a bottle right now. Considering that when I last reviewed the standard Longrow was in 2017 and it was retailing for £37 I don’t think we can accuse J.A. Mitchell & Co of extortionate price increases over the last 8 years. 

Longrow is unusual in the Mitchell Campbeltown family as unlike Hazelburn or Springbank it’s entry level isn’t a 10 year old as per the aforementioned, but rather a no age statement (NAS) release. This of course could be controversial as many NAS releases that I’ve tried have been underwhelming, but there is transparency with Springbank and so we know that Longrow is made up of a vatting of 7, 10 and 14 year old whiskies.

The Longrow range is also quite a small offering comprising of just Longrow, the recently released 100 proof and the 18 year old which we are considering today. The 18 year old is technically also considered a limited edition being released once a year. The sample I got to try was form 2021 and had a cask make up of 30% bourbon, 60% sherry and 10% Chardonnay. It’s bottled at 46%, non chill filtered and natural colour as always with J.A. Mitchell & Co releases. I can’t remember the release price but it was around £100.

Let’s Taste!

Nose: A mix of orchard and tropical fruit. Baked apples with banana, dried pineapple and coconut shavings. A mild white wine note as well as hay and chalk. Vanilla and cardamom plus a touch of oak. There is a peatiness here but it is subdued.

Palate: Feels a little thin truth be told. Sweetness on arrival from candied apples and vanilla before some farmyard funk and soured yoghurt. A hint of diesel before mild pepperiness and oak tannin. The peat smoke is again very mild.

Finish: Medium length with an oily note, drying ashiness, salinity and some mild oak tannins.

Score: 5 out of 10

Overall: Older is better right? Definitely not in the case of this Longrow. It feels really rather tame and subdued compared to the standard Longrow release, as if all that extra aging has somehow robbed it of its vitality. Considering the price differential of the two releases I’d stick with the standard Longrow release and maybe treat myself to a bottle of Springbank 10 as well (if you can find it obviously) or maybe a Glen Scotia Victoriana.

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