It’s not very often that I go through my own bottles at a rapid pace. But somehow, with sherry casks from the Springbank Society that never seems to be a huge problem. In this case it only took a while because I had quite some bottles at a lower fill level sitting in front of it, both physically and in the drinking-queue.

I’ve been a member of the Springbank Society for, I think, about ten years now and almost all the bottles I’ve bought and tasted have been great. There is the odd one out, every now and then (cough – Longrow Chardonnay Cask – cough) that is just too weird and doesn’t work, but most of the time, it’s a blind buy and a happy one.

Also, Longrow and sherry casks. Can’t go wrong there, can we?

Sniff:
Lots of oak on the nose, and lots of sherry too. Not timid at all! Quite some fruit with plums and dates leading the way. Some smoke, but less than expected. Ashy with a tiny hint of rubber and leather. Not unlike Allstars sneakers, somehow.

Sip:
The palate starts of a bit sharper than I would have thought at 53.2%. There’s wood and ash and charcoal at first, but soon the sherry comes shining through. Dry and fruity, with the brand’s typical salty basalt and grassiness.

Swallow:
The finish is dry and sweet, with plums and dates. Salty smoke with that hint of rubber and leather again. Sherry and oak too.

Honestly, if you’re looking for sherry and peat there are a few brands that spring to mind immediately. Port Charlotte and Bowmore are two of them. The third is Longrow. This one fits the bill perfectly and it’s a slightly dirty sherry and peat showcase. Everything I love about Longrow, in short.

Especially the varieties of oak, with the wood, the ash, smoke and charcoal coming through works very well with the dryness and fruit of the sherry. A great combination.

It might not be as complex as some others, but I can’t give it anything else than

90/100

Longrow 2001-2016, 14yo, Fresh Sherry Butt, 53.2%, Springbank Society. Currently available in Germany for 279 euros…