I’ve received several messages of people asking me to review the recent Longmorn 2005 from The Whisky Agency. It’s obvious that dark coloured whisky is still highly anticipated.
Longmorn 15 yo 2005 (49,2%, The Whisky Agency 2020, sherry butt, 323 btl.)
Nose: there’s a base of chestnuts, tobacco and this umami meatiness that we also found in the sister cask by Dutch Whisky Connection. However in this case it’s overtaken (at least for a while) by brighter notes, juicy red berries (raspberries), blackberry jam and lovely oak polish (a wee touch solventy), making it seem a little older. Hints of cedar wood, Nocino and wet earth. A minty edge as well. Complex, pretty great.
Mouth: thick and dark, all on prune juice, blackberry jam again, burnt caramel. There’s some coffee syrup and dried herbs. This should be Pedro Ximénez alright. Lots of chocolates, or rather chocolate cake. Roasted nuts with a caramel coating. Light leathery notes as well.
Finish: long, deep, on dark chocolate, dates and slightly drying oak.
Great maturity considering the age, and I’m happy to report the dark sherry side is balanced with the polished side that we love in much older Longmorn. Slightly above Michiel’s cask in my opinion.