It’s hard to keep up with the stream of releases from Kirsch Import. Every month they present a handful of new things which are usually too good to ignore.
From their latest bottlings we’ve selected this Longmorn 1998 bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in their Connoisseurs Choice range. It aged in a first fill sherry hogshead. Of course Longmorn is known for its glorious old sherried versions, but also younger examples can turn out perfectly.
Longmorn 25 yo 1998 (53,7%, Gordon & Macphail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ for Kirsch Import 2023, first-fill sherry hogshead #20600101, 327 btl.)
Nose: preserved cherries, sultanas, fig jam, stewed blackberries and Fanta cassis. Also hints of Ginjinha, Demerara sugar and apple pie with marzipan filling. Very rich, with a slightly boozy hint of sherry brandy. Light coffee in the background. I like the fact that it’s fruity and clean.
Mouth: a proper sherry bomb, but still showing a lot of fruits. More blackcurrant and blackberry, as well as cherries and raspberry ganache. Then toasted wood appears, with some black pepper, mild herbs and chocolate notes. Hints of gingerbread, oranges and more brown sugar.
Finish: long, with black pepper, thin mints and a suggestion of tobacco.
I like this style: it’s very rich and deeply sherried, but in a fruity way with a nice acidity balancing the darker side. Now available from different stores in Germany, check Kirsch for more information.