Longmorn 1971

The label says Longmorn-Glenlivet and the typical red shield with the letters LDG is present. It was distilled in 1971 and bottled at the age of 30 by Gordon & Macphail, the famous independent bottler from Elgin. The color is a fantastic brown, like cough syrup. I taste it H2H with a 33 Year Old from the same year and the same bottler.

The nose is sweet, to be sure, but also somewhat vegetal. Dried, dark fruits (prunes, raisins, dades) with nuts on cinnamon and nutmeg. Dried flowers, too. A touch of broth (salty and meaty) and parsley. I’m even reminded of chicken soup for a second. But that’s exaggerated. It is primarily soft and fruity. Very good.

On the palate, I’m instantly reminded of a coffee licqueur. Again dried fruit, orange marmalade (but the really good one!), bitter chocolate with almonds and quite some oak, making it drying. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, of course. Then something very sweet emerges… gooseberry? A pinch of pepper and cinnamon. Very good, indeed.

The finish, that isn’t short, but cannot be called long either, is very fruity and dry.

This is one helluva whisky, completely in line with the expectations. If you can still get hold of it, be prepared to fork over about 150 EUR, which – considering this is a three decade old whisky – is dirt cheap.

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