
March 2, 2023

Little Duos, today Longmorn

Glad to have a little more Longmorn on the tasting desk, especially the most recent inception of the official 16. Too bad they had priced it too high (in my opinion) when they first launched that one, I remember many enthusiasts have been waiting for it with guns in their pockets and little goodwill elsewhere, just because of that.

That was when every whisky company was wanting to have its Macallan (including Macallan, ha).

Longmorn 16 yo (48%, OB, +/-2022)

I last tried this 16 – in its former livery – in 2013 and thought it was good but a little weak (WF 80). This newer one's been matured in first fill bourbon, refill bourbon and European oak sherry casks. Classic caskbill, in other words. It's to be said that we've been looking for Longmorn's flabbergasting 'old-school' fruitiness for ages, so maybe is today our day?... Colour: gold. Nose: rather cinnamon and oranges at first, which is a very nice combo, then rather a lovely range of classic western fruits, apples, pears, plums, prickly pears, medlar (said to be anti-ageing, I've heard Stallone loves them), plus green bananas from the oak and some kind of vanilla + tea combo from Starbucks's. I mean, from American oak. Perhaps a little shy globally, but elegant. Mouth: more power on the palate, more oak as well. It's clearly wood-driven in fact. Teas, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, white pepper, straight sawdust… Oranges and apples keep it afloat, having said that. Quite some ginger. Finish: a little short and dry. Green apples, Japanese green tea, even bean curd… Comments: absolutely good, but rather too oak-driven for me. Next time I'm sure, around 2033.
SGP:461 - 80 points.

Perhaps this Italo-Scottish older indie… Sounds like rugby, no?

Longmorn 28 yo 1973/2001 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, sherry hogshead, cask #3970)

Good age, good vintage, good distillery, good bottler, what could go wrong? Colour: mahogany. Nose: mint and old walnuts plus big black raisins, you'd almost believe we're in Malaga. But we're moving to Modena then as there are whiffs of old Ferra… I mean, balsamic vinegar, certainly some metal polish, old copper coins (I still have an old penny book I had brought back from America), and then some wonderful old-school hot chocolate, made with proper grated chocolate. Hints of chives and lovage. Meraviglioso, formidabile, prodigioso and stupendo (I think they got it, S.) Mouth: starts as liquid dark honey blended with old navy rum, goes on with the mandatory walnut wine, and ends up with some excellent old-style cream sherry. Say some V.O.R.S. Finish: medium, honeyed, greatly antique. Walnuts, raisins, sherry, rum, and more chocolate yet in the aftertaste. Some cough medicine too. Comments: an awesome sweetish old Longmorn. Longmorn always loved sherry and not my business but could be that Longmorn needs sherry. I mean, full sherry maturation. Esplendido (that's not Italian, S.!)
SGP:651 - 91 points.

(Thank you Tom)

Check the index of all Longmorn we've tasted so far