Longmorn 1975/2021 G&M PVC Private Collection #21602801

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This Longmorn spent its 46-year maturation in a Refill Sherry Hogshead. The sherry cask had previously been used to mature whisky. Gordon & MacPhail selected the single malt for its Private Collection, for which the company's directors, including members of the Urquhart family, personally choose exceptional casks.

Longmorn distilled the whisky on 30 May 1975. On 24 December 2021, Gordon & MacPhail bottled it from cask 21602801 at its natural cask strength of 42.1%. The cask yielded 203 bottles of 0.7 litres each. The whisky contains no added colouring, is non-chill-filtered and comes in a wooden presentation case with a geometric grain pattern.

Alongside fruitcake and citrus, its fruity, spicy character includes cherry cake with sweet crumble topping, juicy plums and dried fruit. The whisky is rich and complex on the palate. Ripe cherries, blackberries and blueberries mingle with dates, sultanas and fig syrup. Dark chocolate, whole hazelnuts and candied oranges complement cinnamon, cloves, sweet, sticky tobacco notes and oak spice. A gentle note of oak smoke broadens the aromatic range. The long, complex finish combines berry compote with woody notes.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Delicate fruitcake notes lead to ginger and tart mandarin on the nose. Roasted hazelnuts are followed by caramel notes.
• Palate: On the palate, dark chocolate and coffee beans combine with sweetness and spice before raisins and cloves emerge. Toasted oak gives way to a subtle menthol note.
• Finish: Spices and mild tobacco notes linger in the fruity finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Longmorn is located near Elgin in Speyside. John Duff, who had previously managed Glendronach and founded Glenlossie, was among the distillery's founders. Its malt is bottled in its own right and also used in blended Scotch, including Chivas Regal and Ballantine's. Longmorn belongs to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard.

Founded in Elgin in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is responsible for the maturation, cask selection and independent bottling of this release. The company matches its casks to each distillery's new-make spirit character. A collection of whisky samples built up over generations provides a basis for comparison, helping assess the influence of wood and maturation time and informing decisions about future releases. To select sherry casks, Gordon & MacPhail maintains long-standing relationships with bodegas in Jerez and visits them regularly.

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