Longrow Red 11 Year Tawny Cask 750ML

Longrow Red 11 Year Tawny Cask 750ML is a cask-strength peated Campbeltown single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 57.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. Winner of "Best Campbeltown Single Malt" at the World Whiskies Awards, this limited annual release marries heavy peat smoke with the lush red-fruit character of fresh tawny port casks — a combination rarely attempted in Scotch whisky.

Quick Facts: ABV: 57.5%  |  Origin: Campbeltown, Scotland  |  11 Year Old  |  Distillery: Springbank

Production & Heritage

Springbank Distillery, founded in 1828 and still family-owned in the heart of Campbeltown, is one of the few Scottish distilleries that handles every step of production on-site — from malting barley to bottling. Longrow is Springbank's heavily peated expression, double distilled from 100% malted barley using traditional methods. The Red series, released annually, finishes Longrow spirit in wine or fortified wine casks to explore the interplay between peat and fruit. This 11-year-old expression spent its first seven years maturing in bourbon casks before transferring to fresh tawny port casks for a further four years. It is bottled at cask strength with no chill filtration, preserving the full weight and texture of the spirit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Redcurrants and blackberries arrive first, followed by a distinct red cola sweetness. Underneath, a damp, musty earthiness grounds the fruit notes and signals the peat influence waiting to surface.

Taste: The entry is rich and sweet, with red fruits, honey glaze, and brandy basket notes dominating the early palate. At mid-palate the smoke asserts itself — barbecued meats, dried cherries, and mature apricots weave through an oily, full-bodied texture. Cranberry tartness and hints of fig-laced parmigiana add savory complexity as the dram develops.

Finish: Long and layered, with peat building steadily alongside a salty, nutty quality. Rhubarb custard and roasted almonds linger, framed by dry oak leaf and a final pulse of earthy smoke.

How to Drink Longrow Red

At 57.5% ABV, this whisky rewards patience. Start neat in a Glencairn glass, then add a few drops of water to open the fruit-forward middle register without drowning the smoke. A large ice cube also works, gradually unfolding new dimensions as the temperature drops.

For cocktails, the bold cask strength and port-cask fruit character hold up in spirit-forward drinks. A Blood & Sand gains real depth from the smoky red-fruit profile. A Penicillin using Longrow Red as the float brings a richer, more vinous finish than a standard Islay malt. A Rob Roy with sweet vermouth lets the tawny port influence amplify into something genuinely luxurious.

Best For

• Gifting a serious whisky collector who values limited-release Campbeltown malts
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wine-cask finishes across peated whiskies
• Celebrating a milestone with a cask-strength dram meant to be savored slowly
• Adding a rare, award-winning bottle to a curated home whisky library

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Longrow Red taste like? Longrow Red 11 Year Tawny Cask delivers a striking balance of sweet red fruits — redcurrant, cherry, and cranberry — against a backbone of heavy peat smoke, honey, and roasted almonds. The tawny port cask influence gives it a vinous richness uncommon in peated Scotch.

How does Longrow Red compare to Longrow Peated? Longrow Peated NAS is a younger, more straightforward expression focused on raw peat smoke and malty character at a lower ABV. The Red 11 Year adds significant fruit complexity and body from its four-year tawny port cask finish, plus the higher cask strength of 57.5% ABV delivers a more intense and layered drinking experience.

Is Longrow Red good for sipping neat? Absolutely — cask-strength bottling at 57.5% ABV means it was designed to be explored neat or with a splash of water. The full-bodied, oily texture and layered flavors reward slow, undiluted sipping.

Where is Longrow Red made? Longrow Red is produced at Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown, on the Kintyre Peninsula of western Scotland. Campbeltown was once home to over 30 distilleries and is recognized by the Scotch Whisky Association as one of Scotland's five protected whisky-producing regions.

What foods pair well with Longrow Red? Smoked duck breast complements the whisky's peat and fruit duality. Dark chocolate with dried cherries echoes the port-cask influence. Blue cheese such as Roquefort mirrors its salty, savory finish. Charcuterie with fig jam picks up on the dried-fruit and smoky-meat notes. Grilled lamb chops with a berry reduction match the whisky's weight and complexity.

What sizes does Longrow Red come in? Longrow Red 11 Year Tawny Cask is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Longrow Red worth the price? Longrow Red positions as a premium, limited-release single malt from one of Scotland's most respected independent distilleries. Cask-strength bottling, an 11-year age statement, extended finishing in fresh tawny port casks, and World Whiskies Awards recognition all place it firmly in enthusiast territory where it represents strong value relative to comparable limited-edition peated malts.

Why Longrow Red?

The Red series occupies a unique niche in Scotch whisky — annual limited releases that test how far peat and wine-cask maturation can push each other. This tawny port edition earned "Best Campbeltown Single Malt" at the World Whiskies Awards, validating the ambition behind the blend of seven years in bourbon wood and four years in fresh port casks. Springbank's hands-on, floor-malted, non-chill-filtered production philosophy means nothing is lost between cask and glass. For drinkers who want peat with genuine depth — not just volume — the Longrow Red 11 Year Tawny Cask stands among the most compelling expressions Campbeltown currently produces.