Longmorn 16 Year (Discontinued)

The Grill Aberdeen

33 open bottles in my collection ranked through multiple blind tastings. Counting them down! #20: Longmorn. Single Malt Scotch. 48% ABV. 16 year old. Paid $94 I don’t regret buying. This is the discontinued gray box. The newer purple box (I heard) is not as good and is in the $110-120 price range. Not worth it anymore. This is just a solid example of a bourbon influenced Scotch. When the bottle was fresher, it had a wonderful spiciness that made me think this was finished in French oak. After a few months opened, the spiciness is mostly gone. What remains are the typical notes and flavors of a younger and cheaper bourbon matured Scotch, but richer and more confident, and accentuated by a maritime saltiness. Similar in profile to the Balvenie 12 year Single Barrel First Fill, but sweeter and more rounded. Orchard fruits, buttery vanilla, honey, just the right amount of wood. Still got some spice and salt, even now that the bottle is almost done. The bottle and the box have some panache without going overboard. The leather cushion on the bottom of the bottle is luxury with a purpose. The simple “Long no more,” greeting you when you open the box, has got to be the best marketing phrase printed on a box of whisky ever. MARK: 87/100 PREVIOUSLY, ON BATMAN: #21: Maker’s Mark 46. $35 (375mL). 47%. NAS. 87/100 #22: Benjamin Prichard’s Double Barreled. $104. 45%. NAS. 87/100 #23: High West Campfire. $62. 46%. NAS. 86/100. #24: Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill. $59. 47.8%. 12 years. 86/100. #25: Bulleit Barrel Strength Batch 5. $55. 62.7%. NAS. 84/100