Review by: Raygun

This is kind of a cipher. Mackillop’s Choice is not a bottler I see that often and I don’t know much about them. Turns out it’s an Angus Dundee brand, and the casks are selected by Lorne Mackillop, appropriately enough. Not that old a brand–founded in 1996–but they definitely favor an old-school look for the labels. I’m also not too familiar with Longmorn, having tried maybe a handful. This wasn’t something I was particularly seeking out, but I rarely find (somewhat) reasonably priced malts from the 60s and I wanted to have something special anyway. This was probably made from floor maltings, which Longmorn stopped doing in 1970. Likely peated, though I can’t find any definite information on that. The ABV is also something extraordinary. I wonder what the filling strength was if it’s 60.5% after 30 years. Had to have been higher than the usual 63.5%. Reviewed from a bar pour. Rested about 10 minutes.

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Distillery: Longmorn  

Bottler: Mackillop’s Choice  

Region/style: Speyside single malt Scotch

ABV: 60.5%. Cask strength.   

Age: 31 years old. Distilled on November 12, 1968 and bottled in October 2020.   

Cask type: Unknown cask #5259. Almost certainly sherry by the taste.        

Color: Too dark to tell. Natural color and non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Oh mama. The cask type wasn’t specified, but I think it has to be sherry. So rich. Pipe tobacco, anise, figs, prunes, leather, and lots of wood. Sandalwood along with the oak. This does not end. I almost don’t want to sip it, the nose is so good.                          

Palate: This is ridiculous. Has to be slightly peated. There’s a savory flavor that has to come from peat, I think. Figs wrapped with ham, tobacco, leather, charred orange zest, and raspberries. Some pu’er tea. Sweet, but meaty and savory as well, like pulled pork. Incredible intensity and power. A special occasion pour for sure; I wouldn’t want this every day even if I could afford it.      

Finish: Figs, blood orange, tobacco, leather, and powerful oak. Pu’er tea. Anise and sandalwood. Rich and meaty in a roast pork way, but the citrus flavor brightens it up some. The tobacco and sandalwood in particular last.        

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Conclusion: Just absolutely insane. So rich and intense, but layered and deep. Not a one-trick sherry bomb. I haven’t been able to find any information on whether Longmorn was using peat back then, but it was common enough. Certainly tastes like it. I see there are a number of these 1968 Longmorns on Whiskybase, mostly from G&M. Fairly similar cask numbers, too. I see why the ratings are so high. Whatever they were doing at Longmorn that year, it worked. One of the best things I’ve ever had in my mouth.

Score: 97

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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)