Most distilleries in Scotland do not have a well-established single malt brand— as large operations, whose output goes into any number of blends, their primary product is part of the orchestra that is the blend, no the malt solo. Longmorn is one of these orchestral pieces, with a minimal market presence, despite its reputation among industry professionals and the enthusiast crowd. For many years, if you wanted a Longmorn single malt the only option was independent bottles, and the further we go back in time, it is more than likely that the licensed bottles from Gordon & MacPhail were the only game in town.

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Whisky: Longmorn 14 Year (2005), Gordon & MacPhail

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 43

Cask: Oak

Age: 14 Years (Distilled 2005, Bottled 2019)

Notes: Honey and sweet orchard fruits tickled my sinuses— apples and apricots offered up fruity sugars and a touch of acidity. More creamy fresh marshmallow and butter waited further in with warm concrete for a slightly odd mineral and spun sugar combination. Malty sugars and grains left me remembering breakfast cereals— maybe ones with little marshmallows in them. Medium to light-bodied with plenty of honey and herbal tea— a soothing balm for a sore throat. Malty breakfast cereals with hints of crisp apples, pears, and passion fruit bumped up against sweet, creamy marshmallow to keep the breakfast vibes strong. More vanilla, caramel, and oak arrived toward the end. The finish was medium-length with honey, pepper, and a touch of bitter oak.

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Score: 5-6 (76)

Mental Image: Fishing Marshmallows out of the Cereal Bowl

Conclusion: A pleasant no-nonsense whisky without a lot of frills, depth, or off notes. This was a classic kick back and relax dram. It was not the sort of thing that you stick in a tasting lineup or order at a bar, but a good accompaniment for food, conversation, or other diversions. I have been craving bottles like this lately, my tastebuds enjoying mellow drams, and eschewing some of the more challenging or complex drams I had favored. I still like those when I sit down to think about a whisky and to be present with it, they hold my attention better than something like this. But the world is a crazy place, and drams like this are comfy worn blankets, and sometimes that is what I really want— if anything this did sometimes very on the cloying, especially when more of the buttery, creamy notes came to the front.