Whisky Focus - New Longmorn 23 Year Old & Reconstructed Longmorn 16 Year Old

Longmorn adds a new 23 year old and replaces current 16 year old with a newly reconstructed 16 year old.

Longmorn single malt whisky has just unveiled two new expressions which will join the Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice, which launched earlier this year, to form what is now their core range of whisky.

First up we have the new Longmorn 23 year old which Longmorn tell me has spent more than two decades maturing in traditional oak casks, chosen to complement the soft, creamy and rich flavour profile of the Longmorn spirit. Longmorn 23 year old is bottled at 48% ABV without chill-filtration, which they say offers flavour notes of ripe pear and soft red apples that give way to a long, smooth finish.

Next up we have the new Longmorn 16 year old, but that isn't new I hear you say, you are correct, this is what Longmorn are describing as a reinterpretation of the Longmorn 16 year old we already know, basically same age new recipe. So technically the old Longmorn 16 which in my opinion was nothing more than a poor shadow of the quality of the old Longmorn 15 year old it replaced a few years back has now been discontinued and replaced by the new Longmorn 16.

Longmorn tell me that the new 16 year old has been crafted using a higher proportion of first-fill American oak casks, so no surprise that they say this increases the smooth, vanilla flavour notes. Matured in a combination of ex-sherry, first-fill American and traditional oak casks and bottled at 48% ABV without chill-filtration, they describe the new Longmorn 16 Year Old as having an enriched flavour profile of ripe orchard fruits, sweet vanilla and smooth milk chocolate.

Those of you who are easily shocked should stop reading now as these are priced for those with deep pockets, the Longmorn 23 year old has an RRP of £840/US $1,015 for a 70cl bottle and just as shocking the new re-constructed Longmorn 16 year old has an RRP of £145/US $176 for a 70cl bottle which is considerably more than the current asking price of the 16 year old it is replacing which many whisky drinkers found over priced at £80.

Longmorn are promoting the new whiskies as luxury whiskies, I haven't tasted them so I cant comment on that, they are certainly priced as luxury whiskies and if the price is not too much for you the new Longmorn 23, 16 and Distiller’s Choice will be available from specialist whisky retailers such as Master of Malt
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops

Whisky Focus