fredag 3. desember 2010

7 Longmorns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011

Longmorn 19yo 1990-2009 54.5% Malts of Scotland cask#25003

I'm doing a CS bourbon-matured vertical today. I guess it isn't a real vertical, but still. Starting it all with this Longmorn, a malt that I myself have been both impressed and depressed over. Smells light, vanilla, banana, toffee(the lame sugarfree ones). The taste is dry and sour, lemon juice, but halfway it turns sweet again with anis and vanilla notes. Do I dare add water? Yes I do! With a small touch of water it becomes more robust, the sweetness and the soury notes almost disappears and left is a real peppery flavour. I wish I didn't use water.

A good example of an aged bourbon expression: 6



Longmorn 18yo 1989-2007 54.5% Signatory Vintage

Longmorns one of those malts highly regarded by many connoisseurs although never really launched in varieties like Ardbeg, Glenmorangie and so on. Usually you can find one or maybe two if you're really lucky at the liquor store. Smells plain, lots of chlorin, like being in an overheated svimmingpool. The taste is intense, some ripe notes of pear and grapefruit as well as some nice bitterness. With a small dash of water the fruitiness and bitterness disappears, now to have this one neat will be my advice, then it's really a treat.

A really nice fruity Longmorn: 6.5



Longmorn 16yo 48% OB

The new Longmorn, replacing the old 15yo, in addition to another year of maturation it's upping the abv 3%. It doesn't smell much, caramel, glucose and woodiness. The taste is slightly dry and very straight, no fragrances really standing out. It's more like a high strength blend, a really big disappointment compared to the old 15yo standard. I have to try with some water added. It's really kind of one dimansional, rubbery and pepper. I hope they revert back to the 15yo in the future.

A bland and uninspiring malt: 3



Longmorn 15yo 1991-2006 56% JWWW Scottish Castles cask 12851

Well, this then, to celebrate my temporary break, but not to worry, I'll be back with some notes on the fine whiskies from the Great Expectations list near summer. This is a single cask cask strength from JWWW, another IB I'm not familiar with. Very light colour, and definate hints of bourbon on the nose. The taste is absolutely amazing, lots of raw vanilla, small hints of lemon and a wonderful taste of palm heart. This is the kind of malt that is wonderful by itself because of it's complexity, but would also fit just about any meal because it's so damn appetizing. Actually it makes me hungry as there are some flavours that just teases my tastebuds. The aftertaste is of vanilla, lemon and melon pie.

A fantastic version of Longmorn: 8.5



Longmorn-Glenlivet 12yo 40% Gordon and Macphail

One from back in the days, bottled by G&M, stacked with E150 and very cleverly called Pure Malt. But let's hold on to the assumption that it's single malt.It smells really weak, some well hidden rustic notes, sherry or tired cask? The taste is dry and really hot, chili and lime. Adding just a drop of water then. It really opens up with some sweetness, grape soda-like with a spicy finish, actually a pretty huge transformation for such a low abv-malt.

It's something special for sure: 5.5



Longmorn 32yo 1976-2008 53% The Whisky Agency

I haven't tried any of the whisky agency series yet, but I've heard it's supposed to be really good, so.. Nice and dark colour, old style, malty nose, some sweetness and much wood. The taste is instantly oaky and sweet, not much for the ones that loves special casks or peat or any other fragrant "additives". It takes some water and the taste becomes a bit more harmonic, eh, fantastic that is. The aftertaste is peppery, like sweet wasabi.

It's not perfect, but very charming in all it's simplicity: 8



Longmorn 15yo 45% OB

From what I know, Longmorn have now stopped distributing the 15 years old. Funky smells of sweet liquorice, blackberries and cured meat. It has a nice and powerful taste of tawny portwine, dark berries, something sweet and something very peppery. No water needed. All in all a very dry malt, which I won't invest more in event though it will become increasingly harder to get a hold of.

Nice, but don't add water: 5

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