The Whisky Review : Longmorn 12 year old
Spring is here. At Augustus Hare HQ exciting things are happening – lambs are appearing in the meadows that I overlook, bulbs are filling the garden with colour and I am once again feeling my whisky palette shift with the seasons.
When the days were short and I looked forward to a fire in the evening, my hand needed the companion of a punchy island malt, probably something stacked with peat from Islay. Now however, something a little more mellow and soothing is in order.
A recent dram of enjoyment came in the form of a Longmorn 12 year old bottling by Gordon & McPhail. It has been aged in first fill and refill sherry casks.
On the nose I am transported to an evening walk through orange groves, with a hint of apple blossom thrown in.
On the palette this hint of fruit is realised. It’s like a sumptuous orange cake made with ground almonds and drizzled with a light honey. It’s exactly the right amount of sweetness to be refreshing and complex. There is a delicious smoothness that lures you into having some more. This is a very approachable dram that makes you smile – like a buttercup held beneath a child’s chin.
To finish there is a depth of yet more blossomed honey and some spice.
A 12 year old whisky is sometimes considered too commonplace to be interesting. However, this is a truly delightful malt and the perfect companion to those charming spring evenings.
Thank you to Euan Ivory for sharing this fine whisky with me.
