Review by: Raygun

Longmorn doesn’t have much of an OB presence; just a 16 as far as I know. Most production goes to Chivas blends, but IBs aren’t very difficult to find. This particular one is a bit of a cipher. No Whiskybase entry, though it does have a sister cask #60471, also from 1999. That one is north of 60% as well: pretty hefty for the age, though it’s not unheard of. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 10 minutes.

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Distillery: Longmorn 

Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail

Region/style: Speyside single malt Scotch

ABV: 60.7%. Cask strength

Age: 20 years. Distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2020. 

Cask type: Refill American hogshead #60472. I’m interpreting American as ex-bourbon.

Color: 1.2 chestnut. Natural color and non-chillfiltered.

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Nose: Can definitely smell the alcohol. Orchard fruit and muskmelon. Got some citrus as well. Sourdough toast. Water brings out more baked goods and a hint of pine.      

Palate: Brings some heat for sure. Pears, oranges, apricots, and vanilla cream. Creamsicle thing going on here. There’s a toasty, charred flavor here too. It’s not peated and this isn’t from the direct-fired era, so I’m guessing cask char. Does nicely with water, which douses the fire while enhancing the fruit. Also brings out some cake flavor, and orange buttercream.  

Finish: Strong alcohol here too, but you can’t miss the fruit. Mainly pears and oranges again. Melon pops up again, and more vanilla cream. Water again helps subdue the burn without taking away much. The fruit flavors become clearer, I’d say. Getting some peach cobbler now. Not much oak for 20 years, but there is a hint of spice at the back.   

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Conclusion: Very nice. Takes a fair amount of water to show best to me. Too much burn otherwise, which obscures the fruit salad initially hidden by the alcohol. Cask strength doesn’t serve every whisky well, and this is one of those in my opinion. I enjoy this kind of bright, fruit-driven dram. Brings back a feeling of summer even in the midst of fall. 

Buy a bottle? Wouldn’t mind at all, if I could find one. 

Score: 82

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)