Review #947 - Longrow 114 Proof (Batch 2)
While the first batch of Springbank's new Longrow 114 Proof release used Pinot Noir casks for the finishing period, this second batch uses Rioja wine casks. The spirit spent a bit more than 2 years in those wine casks, and before that, there was a 4 year initial maturation in bourbon, so the total age is 6+ years.
This bottle should be more available than the old Longrow Red wine cask series, but considering Longrow represents only a small fraction of Springbank's already small-ish output, this is still a bottle that might be tricky to find. It does come with a more reasonable price here in the US than most other Longrow bottles, though: $100 to $110.
Longrow 114 Proof (Batch 2)
Scotland/Campbeltown - Single Malt
Price: USD 109 (2026)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 57% ABV
Cask Makeup: Refill ex-bourbon casks, finished in Rioja wine casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; batch no. 2, bottled November 26, 2025
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 100% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Relatively strong cask influence - red wine, tannins, lots of cranberry and a bit of dark syrupy sweetness like Luxardo cherry juice. The peat influence is soft; there are also hints of charcoal and a savory scent like beef in a red wine reduction.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness. Some classic red wine notes of tannins and soft red fruit, but also a savory side like pork, charcoal, and wood smoke. The peat has a medium influence, but then grows to strong later; mineral notes and a bit of ash pop up from time to time.
Finish: More fruity in the finish - tart strawberry, tart cherry, then some spirity lemon and a bit of orange. Medium peat smoke combines with a bit of starchy oak; later, it becomes increasingly spicy with black pepper notes. It's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: In contract to the first batch of Longrow 114, which focused on the distillate, this second batch is much more focused on the red wine casks. That Rioja wine is adding a lot of fruit, as well as some spice and tannins, to this batch; the natural color of the whisky is also noticeably much darker in the bottle compared to the first batch, hinting at that difference in levels of cask influence. This is a good peaty whisky, one that has a nice combination of savory, sweet, and spicy, but it relies heavily on the casks, so you need to enjoy the spicy wine profile to like this one.
Value is right around average to us; if you see this for about $100, we think it's worth buying, but we don't recommend overpaying if you see retailers marking this up.
Our Rating: 7.2 / 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: 6.03
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.
