Longrow 11 Years Old Rundlets & Kilderkins 51.7% 2003

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Serge Valentin (87)

Colour: gold.

Nose: sure there is a wee gingeriness from the very active wood coming through, together with a little capsicum, but other than that it’s classic Longrow, with all its twists and turns. That means peat smoke of course, soot, some butter, liquorice, antiseptic, motor oil, spirit sulphur (touches) and a little brine. I’m asking you, what’s not to love? With water: pure Longrow now, adios oak! Leathery farminess.

Mouth (neat): sweet and creamy start, then a slightly biting oak arising together with a lot of heavy liquorice, Scandinavian style. The peat is quite gingery and peppery, it’s all a pretty spicy spirit. With water: yippee, again the distillate won and it became a creamy/spicy Longrow, with added oranges and grapefruits.

Finish: long, maybe slightly drying now. Cocoa powder, oranges and bags of cinnamon.

Comments: takes water like a champ. No, needs water! I like most ‘regular’ Longrows better but this Kundlets and Kinderkists (?) comes close

Whisky Notes (86)

Nose: very sooty and briny. Lots of earthy notes as well, and whiffs of forests in the rain. Tarry fisherman’s rope. Heather. You can feel some grape notes underneath, but the spirit is big enough to overcome the wine. Finally a farmy (slightly sulphury) note that’s actually pretty nice.

Mouth: sweet and toffee-like at first, before a wave of peat smoke and plenty of ashes takes over. A lovely combination of berry fruitiness and farmy notes. Quite unique. Evolving towards drier notes, liquorice and dusty cocoa. Slightly misplaced violet syrup… Pepper and ginger too.

Finish: long, spicy and smoky with cinnamon and wood.

This is interestingly different, and quite enjoyable. More or less a niche within the field of peated malts, with lots of things happening at the same time. The small casks did a good job again.

BOW (88)