Longmorn and Glenburgie were two of my early whisky loves when I first started branching out. While I have continued to chase Glenburgie over the years, Longmorn has fallen by the wayside. I still love the whisky and seek out opportunities to try it, but chasing bottles is an expensive pursuit— Longmorn has no shortage of fans. This dram came my way thanks to a friend who put together a 30+ Year Speyside whisky tasting and was kind enough to share a package of pours.

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Whisky: Longmorn 33 Year (1988), Finn Thomson Cask 17153

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 52.2%

Cask: European Oak Hogshead

Age: 33 Years (Distilled 5 Dec. 1988, Bottled 1 Nov. 2022)

Notes: Tropical fruits and number two pencils— was this a still life drawing class? Less than ripe mango, pineapple, and melon rind met wood and canvas as subtle linseed oil, citrus rinds, and wax lingered in the background. Orange continued with hints of cream, as floral notions carried me to jasmine tea with malty toasted bread as an accompaniment. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was rich and vibrant with dried fruits and wooden cutting boards drifting into herbal tea and some subtle, but funky, lanolin. Exploring an old musty tropical barn with sliced pineapple, kiwi, orange, and guava as a snack; the old wooden structure hid notions of lanolin, grass, dried persimmon, and floral tea. The finish was long and gentle with a peppery nibble to wood, cocoa, and tropical fruit.

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Score: 8 (89)

Mental Image: Tropical Plantation Exploration

Conclusion: Wow! This gentle monster showcased the wonderfully mellow maturation of the malt after three decades, and the more subtle tropical fruits of the direct-fire era of Longmorn (in 1994 the wash stills were converted to steam). The flavors were well-structured and complementary, with a clear evolution from fruity to woody to grassy-herbal elements with hints of mustiness and lanolin (or art supplies on the nose) tying them together. This was wonderful and exactly why I fell in love with Longmorn early on… unfortunately so did everyone else and the distillery remains one of the more expensive ones to chase, especially for pre-1994 distillations (which are not ubiquitously good, so buyer beware).

Image Credit: Must Have Malts