Longmorn’s 18 and 22 Year Olds are more than just annual releases — they’re a celebration of the past, and a symbol of a promising future.
Not many whisky distilleries can claim to possess a sense of history the same way Longmorn does: the Speyside distillery is one of the few in Scotland that has ceaselessly produced whisky for a considerable period — in this case, 130 years. During that time, the distillery established itself as one possessing a pioneering, ambitious spirit — its founder, the entrepreneurial John Duff, incorporated the railway, which was considered an innovation at the time, to export the distillery’s whisky. The distillery has also enjoyed influence around the world, with Masataka Taketsuru going on to become the founding father of Japanese whisky following an apprenticeship at Longmorn.
As part of celebrating its rich history, the 18 and 22 Year Old expressions — the distillery’s annual releases — sport a new look. The box in which the whisky is presented is embellished with gold accents and layered arches set against a deep, royal purple background: a nod to the train tunnels and bridges through which Longmorn’s Scotch was initially exported, and a celebration of the pioneering spirit that underpins the distillery’s rich heritage.
Within the packaging, however, lies the substance of the releases. In what is bound to please the purists, both the 18 and 22 Year Old are single-batch, non-chill filtered whiskies matured primarily in American oak casks and presented at cask strength. Both expressions share the toffee flavour note typical of Longmorn whiskies, albeit with some differences, given the gap in ageing periods between the two. The 18 Year Old has notes of apricots and tropical fruits before a subtly sweet finish of milk chocolate takes over. On the other hand, the 22 Year Old has richer notes of hazelnut praline, poached pears and a touch of citrus, with a sweet, smooth finish that rounds off the depth of flavour attained through its longer maturation.
Looking towards the future, both expressions are also the embodiment of Longmorn’s commitment to refinement and flavour: from these releases onwards, the distillery will only be releasing whiskies matured for no less than 18 years. Coupled with the fact that both releases are non-chill filtered and presented at cask strength, this is a commitment to small but crucial details that Longmorn appears to be taking very seriously and a promising sign of things to come from the distillery.