Springbank is about to release a new expression of Longrow, called CV. According to Kate Wright at Springbank, “CV stands for Curriculum Vitae (Resumé for our North American friends) as it contains whiskies of a variety of ages and so showcases the full range of Longrow characteristics.”
Those of you drinking Springbank for more than a decade will remember the limited release of Springbank CV, which was a bottling employing a similar concept. There was a time when Springbank had a lot of really young whisky and really old whisky but not much in the middle. The Springbank CV was a bottling of just that. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the Springbank CV because, to my palate, there was too much of the young stuff and not enough of the old stuff.
The Longrow CV (which I have not yet tasted), contains a range of whiskies (specifically 6, 10, and 14 years old) from a variety of cask types. In this respect, it’s different than the Springbank CV which was missing the core range in the teens. Let’s hope there’s enough 10 and 14 year old whisky to balance the 6 year old in this new blend of Longrow.
Longrow CV will be released in March, at 46%, and will be an ongoing release, not a one-off like the Springbank CV.
Hi John,
Looks like this is the long anticipated year for Longrow fans,those who love the smoke and have thought it lacking in recent years,those who like it younger,older, somewhere in between or just plain all of it.
In December,I was fortunate to have attended a seminar by Frank McHardy and Peter Currie at Erich Braun’s 9th Whiskyship in Zurich.Of the 8 drams ,3 were Longrows. The first was a 14yr old, nice but nothing like what followed. The second Longrow was an 18 yr. I believe it was 48% from a refill Sherry. It was a World Premiere tasting,the only other bottle would be for a tasting in Japan in Februrary.One word:MORE! The last Longrow was also a unique pleasure.It was a 6yr. Longrow Gaja finish.Frank thought it his favorite and I would tend to agree.The cask had been filled by a party of Swedes visiting the distillery.Im sure they have fond memories!Frank planned to bottle it at cask strength 58.59%? in early 2008.
I didnt taste any of the CV you mentioned but look forward to trying/buying all of them.
By the way while at the Whiskyship I also visited Billy Walker’s Seminar and tasted a yet to be bottled BenRiach 15 yr.Chateau d’Yquem cask finish.WOW!! I believe he plans a Februrary 2008 bottling. When I mentioned our mutual frustration at not getting more of his whiskies in the States,he smiled and said he would work on it.
Thanks John and keep telling us what you know.
Michael, I am a big Longrow fan, and still have bottles from 1973 and 1974 vintage. I am looking forward to trying the new CV. For that matter, I look forward to trying any new Longrow.
And regarding your last comment, I’ll keep ‘em coming. Just posted a new one on Glenrothes and I am 90 minutes away from tasting the new Black Bowmore (!!), so another posting will go up tomorrow at the latest.
Longrow seems to hit it’s stride beginning around 16 yo. At least that’s my take based on the ’73s & ’74s. The more recent bottlings appear to mask the whisky’s youth with strong barrel flavor.
best regards,
/mp
Hi John, Michael’s right – this is definitely going to be a great year for Longrow fans, and whisky fans who’ve yet to discover it! Both the drams mentioned by Michael, the 18yo Longrow and the Longrow from Gaja Barolo casks, will be making their way over to the States as well as the CV.
On the subject of age, Pete and I were actually talking about this yesterday. In general we reckon that at 6yo Springbank still tends to be a bit feinty (there are always casks that’ll disprove this of course!) but a lot of the young Longrow we’ve tasted has been fantastic! With the CV in particular you’re getting loads of smoke and power from the 6yo Longrow but with added depth from the 10yo and 14yo. Hope you like it when you get the chance to taste it!