Whisky Review: Adelphi Selection Longmorn 21 year old (Exclusively bottled for the Oak Barrel Whisky Fair 2013)

Style: Sweet and Spicy

Nose:
Beautiful aroma of stewed fruits on the nose. Powerful peppermint, followed by fragrant core of peaches, orchard fruits and light citrus oranges, very dense and sweet. Massive sprinkle of cinnamon dust and icing sugar. Blackcurrants, black tea on the deeper end, spices hitting a few high notes. Rounded off with white almonds and brown sugar. Very lovely.

Palate:
More smooth stewed fruits rolling onto the palate, the sweetness of the red fruits and the spirit reaches a great balance. Superbly silky and fragrant as blackcurrants meet milk chocolate. Black lemon tea. Sharp peppermint pierces through with more cinnamon dusting over. Malty, corn syrup at the tail.

Finish:
Subtle icing sugar and red fruits cake, milk chocolate lingers.

Thoughts:
Spices might have a tight grip on this one (it seems like a trait of cask strength Longmorn), but you got to love the dazzling array of fruits on display when it opens up when you let it sit for 20 minutes. The flourishing sweetness is immensely rewarding. Great balance between the sherry and the spirit. Suddenly I realized this is the very first Adelphi I have bought back then… Beautiful whisky, and I have polished this off.

☆ [Recommended]

[52.1% • 2013 Bottled • 1992 Distilled • Original Bottling • Single Cask • Non Chill Filtered  • Non Coloured • Cask Strength • Cask Number: 48436 • 1 of 102 Bottles • Matured in Ex-Sherry Hogshead]

-Esmond