Review #946 - Longrow 114 Proof (Batch 1)
Much like the Springbank 5 Year 114 Proof that we looked at earlier in the year, this 114 Proof version of Longrow is Springbank distillery's attempt at making their hard-to-find single malts a bit more available. And, like that 5 year version of Springbank, this Longrow is also an 'Americanized' version the more standard release which the rest of the world gets: Longrow 100 Proof.
Because 'proof' is defined differently here in the United States (2 times the alcohol by volume, instead of the roughly 1.75 times the alcohol by volume used by the old Imperial proof system), Springbank changed the name to 114 Proof so that they could keep the bottling strength around 57% ABV.
The release of this 114 Proof version of Longrow also marks the end of the much-loved Longrow Red series. Springbank found that its aged stocks were dwindling, and due to the very limited production volume of the Longrow spirit, they moved toward a model of bottling the heavily peated whisky at a younger age more often. There's no age statement on this bottle, but these batches of 114 Proof generally seem to spend about 4 years aging in ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period of 2 years or so in red wine casks, so we have a total age of 6 to 7 years.
This first batch of 114 Proof, which was bottled in early 2025, spent its finishing time in refill Pinot Noir casks.
Longrow 114 Proof (Batch 1)
Scotland/Campbeltown - Single Malt
Price: USD 109 (2026)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 57% ABV
Cask Makeup: Refill ex-bourbon casks, finished in refill Pinot Noir wine casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; batch no. 1, bottled January 6, 2025
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 70% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Spirity, a bit of youth, but also strawberry bubblegum, musty hay, buttery notes, and a hint of lime. The peat smoke is quite mild; malty notes grow with time, and that Springbank character beings to show. It's a slightly subtle nose for this strength.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick. Peat is a bit stronger now, but we think it's still only a medium amount of smokiness; then it's strawberry, tart cranberry, along with some oak spice and a bit of vanilla. Musty malty notes are quite subtle, and this grows more buttery with time; lemon-lime soda is an accent flavor.
Finish: Spirity again, but more of that Springbank distillate character - mineral notes, softer peat, then some licorice and black pepper spice. There's a hint of funky oak, and we get dry vanilla and a fizzy sensation. It's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: This Longrow whisky is quite distillate-focused due to the relatively young age, the high bottling strength, and the use of refill casks. That's a good thing, though, and Springbank's spirit is famously excellent - very high quality flavors, good texture and depth. This does taste a bit young, but we also enjoyed those red fruits from the wine casks and the way they interacted with the peat. Overall, it's a good whisky, and it shows how versatile Springbank can be.
Value for this 114 Proof bottle is around average in our books with a price of about $100 - it's one of the more reasonably priced Springbank options these days, and it should be easier to find that some other Longrow releases, which helps.
Our Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.28
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
