Behind the twelfth window of That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s 2019 Advent Calendar we will be reviewing each day until the 24th of December was hidden a Longmorn 10-year-old batch 3 single malt (it’s almost only batch 3s in this calendar!), bottled at 48.3% abv by that Boutique-y Whisky Company. Another distillery from the Speyside region, Longmorn is owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard). It was founded by John Duff, George Thomson and Charles Shirres in 1893 and the production started in December 1894, but in 1897 John Duff bought out his partners and the next year he built another distillery, Longmorn 2, now known as BenRiach, before going bankrupt. The bank then sold the shares to James R. Grant. In 1970, Grant merged with The Glenlivet & Glen Grant distilleries, taken over by Seagrams in 1978, and themselves bought by Pernod Ricard in 2001. Longmorn currently produces about 3M litres of pure alcohol per year with a capacity of 4.5M litres. This Longmorn 10yo batch 3 is, like the Speyburn before, sold at a very expensive price: £76.95 on Master of Malt for a 50cl bottle, that means almost £108 for a full bottle! I sure hope it’s worth it, let’s find out!
Color:
White wine. After a swirl, heads are quick to form and legs shortly go down against the glass.
Nose:
Coldorak: At first the nose is fruity with orchard fruits and oranges, with honey and a hint oat cakes. There may be a floral side too, but beats me which flowers.
Ainulindalë: Some polish and honey, a bit of maltiness under which hides my usual apricot whiff over some quiet vanilla.
Palate:
Coldorak: A sweet and spicy arrival with a minty prickling sensation on the tip on the tongue at first. The mouthfeel is a bit creamy after a moment. Dark fruits, dark chocolate, and oak spices that warm the tongue with a drying effect.
Ainulindalë: The mouth starts with apricot, growing and growing at which point the honey comes into play at the peak of the alcohol tinge, followed by the vanilla and a very sweet feel to it. Not sirupy or anything, just sweet.
Finish:
Coldorak: Quite long with orange, oak and spices, very slightly drying.
Ainulindalë: It finishes medium/short, on a dusty note and stone fruits again, almost bubble gum.
Comments:
The comments section is back, because I think that tasting notes are not enough to explain a rating.
Coldorak: A bit disappointing. I had been gifted a few years ago an official bottling of Longmorn 16yo and I wasn’t impressed, my recollection being of something a bit bland. This one is not that bland, it’s not bad, but not good enough to be worth the high price asked for a bottle.
Ainulindalë: Next time :p
Rating:
Coldorak: 83/100
Ainulindalë: 82/100