Longmorn – 1975/2021 46 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection (70cl, 42.1%)

This is a single cask Longmorn from the Speyside, distilled on 30 May 1975 and matured for 46 years in a refill sherry hogshead. Gordon & MacPhail bottled it on 24 December 2021 at its natural cask strength of 42.1%, giving 203 bottles in 70cl size. It is neither coloured nor chill-filtered and comes in a wooden box. It belongs to the Private Collection, for which the company's directors, including members of the Urquhart family, choose casks themselves. The nose combines fruitcake, ginger and tangy mandarin, followed by roasted hazelnuts and caramel. On the palate dark chocolate and coffee beans meet sweetness and spice, with raisins and cloves, toasted oak and a hint of menthol. The finish is fruity, with spice and mild tobacco.