Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: The Ultimate Whisky
Average price: € 150.00
Official website: www.ultimatewhisky.com
Today I am tasting a whisky of considerable age from a distillery that I have only recently come to love, thanks to Càrn Mòr: Longmorn.
It comes from a single cask (a hogshead ex bourbon) and was distilled on June 15, 1990 (during the last World Cup held in Italy!). Bottled 25 years later, on October 6, 2015, in 225 bottles, at 46%abv, in its natural color and without chillfiltration, it is a proposal from the Dutch bottler The Ultimate and is no longer available in Italy (hence the indicative price which is approximately that of the release).
The bottle was opened three months ago, and I believe it is time, after a new tasting, to share my humble impressions regarding it.
Tasting Notes
The color is a bright gold.
On the nose, the first impact is with a profusion of white-fleshed fruit in spirit (apple and pear), along with a generous spiciness that mostly intertwines with nutmeg and just a touch of cinnamon. As the minutes pass, the olfactory analysis transforms into a delicious exploration of the infinite possibilities of pastry: there’s zabaglione, pastry cream, shortcrust, and vanilla, both individually and in delightful combinations. A consistent memory of apricot returns like a refrain.
The palate is rich and full from the start, with intense notes that do not fade over time: yellow apple, fruit jelly, vanilla, pastry cream, and shortcrust pastry, with just a hint of pepper and an unexpected citrus side. While the yellow orange adds complexity to the profile, the zest of cedro tempers the creamy sweetness with an acidic and fresh note.
The finale is long and flavorful, still with a lot of pastry, a minimal sprinkle of pepper, and an unprecedented hint of gummy forest fruits.
Review: For the consistency of the sensations and the balance of the aromas, the result is even beyond expectations. This whisky imprints itself in memory as one of the best drams ever tasted from Longmorn. Congratulations to those who selected it and to those who chose a strength that is rather unusual for ages of this kind (offered cask strength), which, however, here reveals itself with Swiss precision (or rather Dutch, given the IB…).
Vote: 91/100