The second batch of Longrow 21 Year Old appeared a couple of weeks ago. It is matured in 95% sherry casks and 5% bourbon, shifting more towards sherry than the 2019 edition for instance.
Longrow 21 yo (46%, OB 2020, 3600 btl.)
Nose: old engine oils and metal tools, wet cloth and lots of coals. Both sooty smoke and fresh charcoal. Wet concrete. Hints of beef jerky. There’s a light berry sourness but it seems less fruity than previous editions. Little (classic) sherry as well, it’s more of a vague sweetness, some dried herbs and a musty bodega aroma or a dirty dunnage warehouse floor. Whiffs of mezcal and hints of pickle brine.
Mouth: the same sooty, earthy style with wet chalk, roasted nuts and hickory smoke. Oak char. Lots of oily notes again. Tobacco leaves. Mid-palate there’s some apple / almond sweetness, citrus zest and vanilla before it goes back to coal dust and this peculiar pickled note.
Finish: rather long, on peat smoke, spice and roasted nuts.
This Longrow 21 is a very mature example of the Campbeltown character again, even though I preferred last year’s edition. I really think they should do a higher strength version of this, just 48-50% would give it an extra kick and make it a future classic.