Longrow Red 11 Year Old

This Longrow Red Cabernet Franc finish is the sixth release under the "Red" range of heavily peated single malts from The Springbank distillery. The Wine casks are sourced from the De Toren Private Cellars in Stellenbosch, South Africa and is the follow up from the previous Malbec release (the casks were also from the same winery). It has been bottled at cask strength of 55. 9% ABV having spent an initial nine years in bourbon barrels before a final two in Cabernet Franc barriques. 2018 release of only 9000 bottles. Follows on from an 11 year old Australian Shiraz, 11 year old Port, 12 year old Pinot Noir, 11 year old Cbernet Sauvignon and last years 13 year old Malbec cask finish. Nose: Initially there’s peat, peat and more peat. After leaving this to aerate red wine notes appear, as well as the sweetness of marzipan, toffee, raspberry jam and Eton mess. Taste: The peat remains as does the sweet taste of caramelised sugar and toffee apples. This is balanced by the contrasting fruity flavours of stewed rhubarb and crisp, juicy red apples from the red wine casks. There is also a rich buttery biscuit flavour on the palate. Finish: To finish, there are lovely long sooty smoky burnt embers. This is accompanied by some dry oak vanilla tannins and phenolic antiseptic notes return to say adieu.