Not the kick-ass Longmorn I tasted at the Hielander Whisky Festival last week, but an ancient dram nonetheless. I got a sample from this from Dick de Jong a while ago and hadn’t gotten around to tasting it yet.
Nose:
It starts off with unripe pear, then I got black cherries. After that, custard with caramel. Not entirely creme brulee, but something similar. The wood gets more prominent with a bit of time and I also start getting something waxy, like candles.
Taste:
Full and creamy fruit with custard. Sherry trifle with wood chips. Some wood spices as well, cinnamon and maybe a hint of liquorice. Also some banana.
Finish:
The finish is gentle and of medium length, creamy with a light woodiness. Also a bit milky with orchard fruits like apples and pears.
It’s a very gentle dram from start to finish. The flavours are there but you have to look out for them, since they don’t really attack your nostrils and tongue. The complexity is a very nice thing to get, but I just wanted it to be a bit more pronounced in some bits, especially the finish. Still, just as good as the Gordon & MacPhails I tasted a while ago.
Longmorn-Glenlivet 1967-2004, Scott’s Selection, 750ml bottle, 53%