Longmorn 17 Year (SMWS 7.269 "Luscious, Silky, and Sensuous")

 

This was the second of six samplings of the May outturn for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") - an older Longmorn, full of buttery, grassy Bakewell tart! A gathering of about 30 people gathered at the Jack Rose Saloon in Washington DC to try and guess a blind tasting of the six drams. 

Here are the official notes:

We encountered a fruity nose, leaning towards the citric – blood orange, lemon meringue pie, gooseberries, juicy pears and plums; also flower meadows, salted caramel, Bakewell tart and sun-warmed oak. The palate, true to that promise, gave a sweet citric burst of green apple, pear drops, bitter lemon, cherry Tunes and fruit pastilles; then light after-tingles of perfumed wood and leather. The reduced nose had a newly-opened biscuit assortment, ginger ale, marzipan and fresh-cut hay. The palate was ‘luscious, rounded, silky, sensuous and sophisticated’ – honey, boiled sweets and fruit tarts, fresh floral flavours and a lip-smacking finish of crystallised ginger and oak.

Intriguing! After 17 years in a second fill ex-bourbon cask, this was bottled at 55.5% ABV. Let's jump to it: 

Nose: Butter, vanilla, cereal grains, grass, cream, berries, melon. With water, the melon intensifies, and a nice red grape note is tossed in the mix. Simply "smells old," which is a weird thing to write, but it's true. Immediately upon scenting the glass, you can tell that this has been around the block a few times. 

Mouthfeel: Thin, but oily/silky.

Palate: Berries, cream/creme brulee, hay, and malt are predominant. The berries and creme brulee together definitely create the impression of Bakewell tart that the official notes (and the woman at the table next to me, tasting blind!) mentions. Quite simple, but elegant: what it does, it does very well. With water, I get more of the various fruit from the official notes: lots of juicy citrus and a little bit of orchard fruit. 

Finish: Malt, dunnage, pepper, oak. 

Verdict: Quite nice! Strangely, the only two drams of Longmorn that I've had have been 16 and 17 years old, respectively. Clearly a spirit that does well with age. This is quite a nice summer night type whisky, and is recommended.