Whisky: Littlemill 25 Year (1989), Hart Brothers for North Sea Bottlers

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland

ABV: 52.1%

Cask: First Fill Sherry Butt

Age: 25 Years (Distilled Oct. 1989, Bottled April 2015)

Nose: Dried berries and baking spices bloomed with the spirited and chemical smell of a new Sharpie marker, subtle leather and flourless dark chocolate cake with touch of rich balsamic.

Palate: Medium-bodied and oily with prominent wood and more subtle tropical fruit candies, guava and mango candies with a touch of grassy sugar cane; peppery toward the end with subtle tobacco and baking spices, more orange and oak lingered at the end.

Finish: Medium-length and a touch peppery with tropical fruit candies, wood, and a kiss of dark chocolate.

Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Rainforest Flavored Trail Mix

Narrative & Notes: I initially tried this Littlemill during a 1989-themed whisky tasting. Going into the tasting, it was one of the bottles I was most excited to try. I have had precious few opportunities to try Littlemill, and it is always a delight to try such an uncommon or long-closed distillery. While the bottle was in good condition, with no label or physical damage, and a good fill level, I wonder if the storage conditions were suboptimal at some point. I can think of no other reason why my score is so much lower than the 90-point Whiskybase average.

I found the whisky tepid, over-oaked, and oddly chemical at times, three things that spoiled the more enjoyable notes of tropical fruit candies on the palate and a bit of cask-driven balsamic on the nose. It was significantly more enjoyable when I returned to it in the quiet of my study, yet it remained a touch disappointing. At the very least, given other reviews, it never hit the heights I expected.

I rarely look up other reviews before I write my own, but as I tried to collect my thoughts on this whisky, I went ahead and decided to see what others had said, expecting to find similar disappointment. It was almost more disappointing seeing that I was alone. Some of the reviews on Whiskybase do not sound all that appetizing or as though the author enjoyed the bottle, but the scores reflect widespread acclaim.

Overall, I would give this a second chance if I had a chance to try a different bottle, but otherwise it was not to my taste.