Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Littlemill.
Bottler: Hart Brothers.
Region: Scotland/Lowland Single Malt.
ABV: 52.1%. Cask Strength.
Age: 25 Years. Distilled in Oct. 1989. Bottled in April 2015.
Cask type: First Fill Sherry Butt.
Nose: Dried berries and baking spices bloomed with the spirited and chemical smell of a new Sharpie marker, subtle leather and flourless dark chocolate cake with touch of rich balsamic.
Palate: Medium-bodied and oily with prominent wood and more subtle tropical fruit candies, guava and mango candies with a touch of grassy sugar cane; peppery toward the end with subtle tobacco and baking spices, more orange and oak lingered at the end.
Finish: Medium-length and a touch peppery with tropical fruit candies, wood, and a kiss of dark chocolate.
Mental Image: Rainforest Flavored Trail Mix.
Conclusion: I initially tried this Littlemill during a 1989-themed whisky tasting. Going into the tasting, it was one of the bottles I was most excited to try. I have had precious few opportunities to try Littlemill, and it is always a delight to try such an uncommon or long-closed distillery. While the bottle was in good condition, with no label or physical damage, and a good fill level, I wonder if the storage conditions were suboptimal at some point. I can think of no other reason why my score is so much lower than the 90-point Whiskybase average.
I found the whisky tepid, over-oaked, and oddly chemical at times, three things that spoiled the more enjoyable notes of tropical fruit candies on the palate and a bit of cask-driven balsamic on the nose. It was significantly more enjoyable when I returned to it in the quiet of my study, yet it remained a touch disappointing. At the very least, given other reviews, it never hit the heights I expected.
I rarely look up other reviews before I write my own, but as I tried to collect my thoughts on this whisky, I went ahead and decided to see what others had said, expecting to find similar disappointment. It was almost more disappointing seeing that I was alone. Some of the reviews on Whiskybase do not sound all that appetizing or as though the author enjoyed the bottle, but the scores reflect widespread acclaim.
Overall, I would give this a second chance if I had a chance to try a different bottle, but otherwise it was not to my taste.
Final Score: 77.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 