So many Littlemill bottlings around 2012-2014 and just two that I could try this year (see the Littlemill 1990 Archives). Douglas Laing bottled this refill hogshead last summer in the Xtra Old Particular range.
Littlemill 25 yo 1991 (50,9%, Douglas Laing ‘Xtra Old Particular’ 2017, refill hogshead #11789, 300 btl.)
Littlemill 25 yo 1991 (50,9%, Douglas Laing ‘Xtra Old Particular’ 2017, refill hogshead #11789, 300 btl.)Nose: a bit of an uncommon start on old wax candles and dusty cupboards. Engine oil. Then a bit of sweet plums, orange zest and honey. Green banana. Roasted malt. Hay. Cedar wood. Very interesting but perhaps not as fruity as I expected.
Mouth: again a weird onset. Very grassy at first, alongside a bitterness of marmalade and lime zest. Butter toffee. White pepper, a little salt. Honey. After a while you get the trademark bergamots, apricots and especially grapefruits (white and pink), though it quickly returns to heavy oak and spicy / bitter notes.
Finish: long, fairly dry, with some tannins and resinous notes. Echoes of the fruity notes.
Well, certainly interesting but it’s not an absolute stunner. There seems to be a lot of oakiness involved and a good deal of sherry which tend to cover the beloved fruity profile. This kind of Littlemill is now around € 375, quite heavy.
Score: 87/100