I’m glad this one only had a Whiskybase number on the side of the bottle instead of a full label. That would have caused much more anticipation and maybe would have been suggestive in to what to expect.

Of course, even though this sample hasn’t been on the shelf for a year, I don’t remember where it came from. Of course, I can make some guesses, but just be safe and not credit the wrong person by accident.

Sniff:
Fresh and fruity sherry, almonds and peaches. Dates too, but without being overly sweet and rich.

Sip:
The palate has a bit of bite like chili peppers. A bit of oak, lots of peaches, apricots, dates. A grainy dryness behind that, with old warehouses.

Swallow:
Very classical sherry on the finish. Lots of depth, with even hints of leather and raisins being added to it. Quite gentle, but also quite deep.

I did not pick up on the peat at all until I noticed it was a Longrow. It is way more an earthy note than a smoky one. Of course, the sherry is quite noticeable, and it still makes for a great dram. With past experiences of blind tasting competitions, I’ve noticed that sometimes the peatiness of a dram can change a bit when sampled. I have no explanation for this, but a couple of years ago I, and a lot of others, didn’t recognize a Lagavulin because the smoke had turned into a certain earthiness.

Anyway… Very, very good whisky. Interestingly earthy with lots of sherry goodness.

89/100

Still available in the secondary market for about € 120. That seems quite affordable until you realize that that is for 20cl.