Gordon & MacPhail have provided La Maison du Whisky with a few remarkable Longmorn releases. In 2007 there was this Longmorn 1972 (cask #1088), followed in 2008 by a Longmorn 1964 (cask #1538) and a Longmorn 1969 in 2009 (cask #5295).

This Longmorn won a Gold medal in the 2006 Malt Maniacs Awards.

Longmorn 34 yo 1972 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail for LMdW 2006, cask #1088, 607 btl.)

Nose: obviously first fill sherry, but very fresh and lively. The usual raisins and dark chocolate are present, but there’s also fresh raspberry, apricot, banana and a few tropical notes. Gentle smoke. Really heavy sherry with beefy notes. A drop of water makes it slightly more herbal but it also amplifies the lush red fruits. Mouth: more smoke now, a few earthy notes and much more wood. Lots of kirsch and Mon Cherie. Moving to liquorice and almonds. Water adds bitter chocolate. Finish: more liquorice, plain salt and Ginjinha (Portuguese cherry liqueur). Long but a bit too dry and rather oaky.

A great Longmorn. The beefy nose and oaky finish will probably appeal to sherry lovers only, but it’s perfectly clean and pretty complex. Long gone.

Score: 91/100