A One-of-a-Kind Speyside Single-Malt from Hunter Laing
1991 Longmorn 21 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($149.99)
“It might be one of the most atypical whiskies I’ve tasted this year, but I really like it … it’s a treat to drink.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

Our intrepid spirits team continues to unearth singular rarities that even the most seasoned collectors find intriguing, and this highly distinctive 21-year-old Speysider from Longmorn more than fits that bill. While most of our exclusive-cask offerings have come to us recently bottled, this unusual gem has been resting patiently in glass for the last decade, only to be released earlier this fall by the incomparable independent bottler Hunter Laing. As old malts go, it certainly shows its cards with a big, deep flavor profile, but the additional twist of vibrant, tangy citrus features left our buyers thoroughly charmed. Historically speaking, it also bears some significance in that it was one of the last malts distilled on Longmorn’s unique, coal-fired still, which no doubt contributed to its now wild, untamed character. Even as malts of similar ages are going for well north of $200 or more, this one-of-a-kind rarity comes in at a cool $149.99, making it one of the savviest buys in well-aged Scotch in our inventory.

1991 Longmorn 21 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($149.99)

K&L Notes: Hunter Laing has been sitting on this one for some time. This is not a true K&L Exclusive, as it was sold in the UK and Europe, but it’s sat in bottle at the Hunter Laing warehouses for almost ten years now. This is a fun peppery style from Longmorn that offers rich, malty citrus oil and savory spice. The Longmorn Distillery was founded outside of Elgin in 1894 by John Duff. Just one year later, he built a second adjacent distillery now called Benriach. Longmorn was unique in the area for keeping their direct-fire stills operational until 1994. That means that this old bottling is likely some of the last malt to be distilled over burning coal embers and perhaps this is what gives it such wild, old-school character. The intensity of flavor is unique and somewhat surprising, as modern Longmorns can be very soft and creamy, but certainly for anyone who loves an old style malt, this will be a very fun and exciting bottling. No color added, no chill-filtration.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: November 16, 2022

A Margarita and High Ball walk into a bar … wait, no. They meet in a bar? Collide? I don’t know. Whatever it is, this whisky is an unusual find and tastes a bit like a Margarita—tart and peppery, yet weirdly satisfying like old malt should be. Sitting in bottle for ten years, this cask was suddenly made available to us. The beauty of these kinds of offers, as rare as they are, is that we can frequently secure a price that isn’t too far off what you might have expected to pay ten years ago when it was bottled! This cask is surprisingly fresh and, like most long-bottled spirits, takes some time to open up. It’s got a zippy acidity like a lemon drop, sweet, yet tart. Tons of raw barley and pepper spice dominate the nose and are present on the palate. A sweet jammy note mixed with a fine sugar rim and crushed apples spring forth. It might be one of the most atypical whiskies I’ve tasted this year, but I really like it. It’s a hard one to describe for sure, but it’s a treat to drink.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: November 29, 2022

This wild little Longmorn is kind of an antique. Bottled over a decade ago, we’re not at all sure why our suppliers held onto it so long, but we’re happy to take this fabulous whisky off their hands. One of the few expressions we’ve ever released that’s not cask-strength but instead bottled at Old Malt Cask’s traditional 100 proof. The distillery no longer uses open coal flame to distill this malt, so this relic should be seen through that lens. The color is yellow gold. It’s a bit rugged compared to modern, sometimes slightly monotone Longmorns. A big, dark malt character coupled with a soft peppery note and an earthy bass note. The savory, meaty nose does a complete about-face on the palate, which offers zingy citrus, vibrant malt, and gorgeous roasted oak spice. The finish moves darker again, adding more pepper, while retaining the citrus. A wild, tingly malt with lots of vibrancy. It’s not the typical Longmorn, but has this very odd and appealing profile for those that don’t mind a bit of meaty savory character in their whisky.

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