We’re back to Longmorn with three official releases, as we take a look at three Secret Speyside expressions from a few years ago. The Secret Speyside collection, made by Pernod Ricard, who owns Longmorn, Braes of Glenlivet or Glen Keith and other distilleries (and in the coming months I’ll review a few Caperdonich from that same range). But for now, on my table today are the Longmorn 18-, 23- and 25-year-old.
Longmorn 18-year-old Batch L03 (2022) Review
I’ll begin with the youngest of the three: the Longmorn 18-year-old, specifically batch 3, which was bottled in November 2022. This expression spent its entire 18 years maturing in American oak barrels and hogsheads, though the cask history—whether exclusively ex-bourbon or otherwise—remains undisclosed. Bottled at 48% ABV and without chill filtration, each bottle is individually numbered, but the total batch size is not specified. There is no information provided about colouring, and I suspect that this release, like its older counterparts, may include added colour. It is still available in some outlets, with prices ranging from €115 to €180, depending on the retailer and batch number.
Colour:
Burnished (probably coloured)
Nose:
Neat: The nose has a medium-low intensity, with aromas of creamy custard, ripe mango, vanilla pods, a little fudge, hints of raw wood, then some delicate melon.
Palate:
Neat: The palate delivers more intensity than the nose, with a creamy texture. The flavours lean “darker” than suggested by the nose, featuring more wood, tarte tatin, and spices such as nutmeg and cloves. Notes of cigar box, orange marmalade, mustard, and hazelnuts also emerge.
Finish:
The finish is long, with dark—but not overly so—chocolate, oak, walnut cake, and a lingering warmth.
Comments:
This Longmorn is an enjoyable dram, with a ‘select’ wood influence that introduces a touch of fruit on the nose, though the palate is dominated by wood, nuts, and spices. It has the comforting character of an autumnal whisky, which—given the heatwave we’re currently experiencing in France, feels perfect for a few months later down the year…
Rating: 6.5/10
Longmorn 23-year-old Batch L03 (2022) Review
Next up is the Longmorn 23-year-old, batch L03, also bottled in November 2022. Like the 18-year-old, it matured in American oak hogsheads and barrels, though the previous contents of the casks remain unspecified. It is non-chill filtered, bottled at 48% ABV, and likely includes added colour, much like its younger sibling. It appears to still be available, with prices ranging from around €250 upwards.
Colour:
Burnished
Nose:
Neat: The nose opens with yellow fruits—peach, apple, and apricot—alongside melon and mango. There are also hints of dried figs and a touch of sourness, reminiscent of sour grapes.
Palate:
Neat: The palate offers a solid intensity and feels slightly more robust than its 48% ABV suggests. Flavours of sour plums and chocolate appear first, followed by wood bitterness and coffee. Notes of unripe pears, spices like cinnamon and clove, salted liquorice, creamy vanilla, ginger, and a hint of pepper develop as well.
Finish:
The finish presents coffee, pepper, wood, liquorice (without the saltiness this time), and unripe apricots.
Comments:
This is a very fine Longmorn, offering both impressive intensity and a satisfying complexity that makes it a standout dram. That said, it does feel somewhat pricey for what it delivers.
Rating: 7/10
Longmorn 25-year-old Batch 1 (2019) Review
Last in the lineup is the Longmorn 25-year-old, Batch 1, also part of the Secret Speyside series. This expression undergoes triple maturation in American oak barrels, hogsheads, and butts, suggesting a notable sherry influence. Bottled at cask strength – 52.2% ABV for Batch 1—and without chill filtration, there is no mention of whether colouring has been added. Batch 1 remains available, typically priced from €380, with later batches not being less expensive.
Colour:
Burnished
Nose:
Neat: The nose presents a mix of orchard and tropical fruits—pear, apricot, plum, pineapple, and mango—while the sherry casks contribute a subtle influence, adding hints of figs, dates, and a distant note of leather.
With water: The nose becomes more subdued, losing some intensity, and shifts toward lemon juice and apple compote.
Palate:
Neat: The palate is both citrusy and woody, with grapefruit and oak spices upfront, followed by juicy pears, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove), strong coffee, and cocoa powder. The mouthfeel is syrupy yet slightly ashy, with a faint metallic note.
With water: The profile turns fruitier, revealing sour plums, grapes, apples, and more grapefruit, alongside a nostalgic hint of candy cigarettes, maple syrup, and a floral touch.
Finish:
The finish is hot and peppery, with raw oak, apricot almonds, and a medium length.
Comments:
The Longmorn 25 Batch 1 is another excellent expression, but it doesn’t clearly surpass the 23-year-old. While it introduces some appealing elements, it also brings less desirable notes, such as the candy cigarette flavour and a harsher finish. Given its significantly higher price compared to the 23-year-old, it’s difficult to justify recommending it over its younger sibling.
Rating: 7/10
With big thanks to Aurélien!