Tasting Notes by Brand: Longmorn

Rating 4/ 10
Categories
Authors

Longmorn 17 Year 1996/2014 1st Fill Sherry Butt Cask #105089 43% for Signatory Vintage

Nose: Initial impression, a wisp of sulfur laden miracle whip…mmm…caramelized figs, sultanas, spiced boiled apples. In the canary islands, they make great wine. But when you go through a long aging process, often over 25 years, sometimes a barrel turns to vinegar. Why let top shelf vinegar go to waste? They drizzle Vinaigre Macho on fish or meats or use it in cocktails to add that sweet cloying funk. A fun potato salad.

Palate: Gentle and subtle. Tobacco leaf and cardboard. Finish is dark roasted coffee. I even went back for a second dip and didn’t find much more.

Rating: 4 / 10 – the nose and palate weave a very different narrative and while the palate is gentle, it lacks complexity and depth. I had high expectations after the first 1996 Longmorn was such a heavy hitter, and we find myself a wee bit disappointed here.

Rating 7/ 10
Categories
Authors

Longmorn 17 Year 1996/2014 Sherry Butt #105092 60.1% for The Ultimate

Nose: Classic sherry nose with layers of sweetness. Maple syrup and fancy christmas panettone with dark cherries and dried prunes. Sherry poached pears. Prune vibe is potent when I return to the glass. 

Palate: You ever stare at your own notes and think, that isn’t a description, its just a rehash of every decent wood forward sherry bomb out there? Yeah yeah, dark chocolate, leather, coffee, and oak. Plump raisins and dates. =)

Rating: 6 (Ryan) 7 (Shane) / 10 – This is everything you want in a classic sherry bomb. A bit too woody for Ryan, but right up Shane’s oaky alley.

Rating 8/ 10
Categories
Authors

Longmorn 1996 The Ultimate Cask 72324 Sherry butt 57.4%

Nose: Ryan has cognac on the brain but we are in pure sherry country. Intense deep dark notes, with big spices to follow. Pitted dried prunes. Grape leather. Christmas pudding… the kind grandma has fed liquor to for the past three years. Dried aleppo peppers. Cumin and cardamom. I get Boursin cheese spread – the shallot and chive flavor but Ryan calls BS; ain’t no cheese funk here. He’s usually right but not this time. Pineapple upside down cake. Crushed walnuts.

Palate: Big bitter oak. Tobacco and Folgers crystal coffee. Deep dark sherry notes that are bordering on dank, overripe cherries edging on eat or toss. Potent ginger and white pepper. Black tea.Long finish is dark chocolate covered espresso beans.

Rating: 7 (Shane) 8 (Ryan) / 10 – Long live the sherry cask. We have a half-dozen more of these 1996 Longmorn single casks and they are all this good.