Longmorn 16yo (48%, OB, +/-2008) Lot 2008/05/12 12:22 LW30509

It always takes a while for new whiskies that are introduced in the UK to be finally released in North America which explains why the new official bottling (OB) of Longmorn is just becoming known on this side of the Atlantic. The 16yo replaces the venerable and much loved 15yo bottled at 45% ABV. The nose has banana, apricot, marmalade and malt with spicy pepper. Clean, malty and what one would expect from a Speyside whisky. The taste is dusty malt with oak, more pepper (perhaps from the higher ABV), some mild hints of rum like sweetness and various tree fruits along with dried fruit; richer with a turbo oak spice kick. The finish is long and warming with all the notes as previously described. No off notes in the finish and quite dry at the very end along with wood and malt and rich dried fruits once again. Excellent.

For a distinct lack of information on Longmorn visit http://www.pernod-ricard.com/en . One of the very few bottles these days that does not have a web address on the label; bet that makes the distillery staff proud.

C$100 and non-chill filtered and an improvement over the 2007 bottlings. However one does have to wonder about the dramatic price increase versus the 15yo……….

Score 86 Points