Longrow 1974 21 Year Old Official Bottling #1550

This is the true 1974 vintage Longrow. It's excellent. Longrow LONGROW 1974-1996 21yo OB #1550 46% one of 350 bottles The aroma features moistly ripe apricot and orange, strong sharp peat smoke, a touch of chlorine or metallic notes, vanilla, a damp and gentle barley character with a slightly earthy quality. On the palate, it starts smooth and expands into a powerful, aromatic flavor with a slightly clear nuance. The sweetness of thick apricot jam is rich and full-bodied, with a good damp barley character, leather, and a powerful, penetrating umami. The peat and oil are well-defined, leaving an intoxicatingly long finish. 【Very Good/Excellent】 This is the official 1974 Longrow, a single cask aged for 21 years. True to Longrow's style, the overall character has a moistly damp nuance. The aroma features ripe apricot and orange, with a strong smoky peat character that feels sharp. There's also an earthy quality reminiscent of damp soil and a gentle, savory barley note. On the palate, it starts smooth and expands into a surprisingly powerful, aromatic flavor that feels more like an unwatered dram. There's a rich sweetness reminiscent of apricot jam, with a refined barley character and oiliness detectable. The peat is sufficiently present, offering a sense of power beyond the alcohol strength and an intense umami. I was utterly enchanted by the long, intoxicating finish. Despite Longrow's usual roughness and occasional impurities, there was a surprising elegance to the clear, refined aroma. It had a jammy intensity but also felt refined, almost aristocratic in its clarity. Interestingly, it reminded me of the excellent old Springbank with added humidity and a strong, rustic peat character. I thoroughly enjoyed the penetrating umami. The happiness from this dram lasted for quite some time after finishing it.