Longmorn why aren't they sold more widely

[elli]

I quite enjoy the smoothness and sweetness of longmorn, I am extremely suprised that in my mind a quality malt isn't sold more widely, it can't be found in Manchester, I was fortunate to buy a bottle in Schipol airport, but comeone Longmorn, you have a wonderul whisky, sell it to the public, they are waiting to taste your wares!!

[Di Blasi]

Yes, the Longmorn 15y is the one I've had, and it is good, also well rated. It does seem to be out of the ordinary, too bad, cause I'd like to try others. Any other fans out there have any suggestions?

[JWFokker]

I had a couple drams of an old 15yo bottling (bottled sometime during the 1960's) a few months back and it reminded me of a Macallan, but with even more sherry. A very big flavored whisky. Almost kinda thick tasting like syrup. Good stuff but I don't think I could drink it on a regular basis. But then, I kinda like the Fine Oak Macallan's, so I'm no sherry fiend by any means.

I don't know about the UK, but here in the US I order most of my whisky online. There's so much more selection on the Internet. I make sure I get at least three bottles (of various flavors) otherwise it's not worth it due to shipping cost. To buy three or more it's not so bad because to compensate for the cost of shipping, I can generally find better prices online and it's tax free because I order from an out of state retailer (though we are supposed to declare internet purchases on our taxes each year).

I understand that in the UK there are such things as duty-free shops, which are preferable to shop in, but if you like Longmorn that much, wouldn't it be worth paying extra for by ordering online?

[karlejnar]

Yes, the Longmorn 15y is the one I've had, and it is good, also well rated. It does seem to be out of the ordinary, too bad, cause I'd like to try others. Any other fans out there have any suggestions?

I can suggest the Chivas Bros' Cask Strength Edition 17yo

An excellent whisky (in fact so are the others in the series)

The only catch is, that you can only get it at one of Chivas' (Pernod-Ricard) distilleries or in a wellstocked bar
The Quaich Bar at Craigellachie Hotel or the Glenfiddich Restaurant in Dufftown are two places where it's possible to taste them

Edit: I forgot - if you take the (highly recommendable) tour at Aberlour Distillery, they'll maybe let you nose (but not taste) the series

[Di Blasi]

Great, thanks for the tips karlejnar! I'll be in Scotland, mostly Edinburgh, Aug. 28- Sept. 3, and building the plans now! I'm not sure how much we'll be touring around and out of Edinburgh, my girlfriend is not a whisky fan. But glad to get the tips cause maybe by then she'll fall in love with whisky?!

[Frodo]

...I quite enjoy the smoothness and sweetness of longmorn, I am extremely suprised that in my mind a quality malt isn't sold more widely, it can't be found in Manchester, I was fortunate to buy a bottle in Schipol airport...

I guess we in Ontario have your share over here. We have the 15yr OB and TONS of IB's from G&M, OMC, Hart Bros, CC etc.. In fact, I am thinking of doing a Longmorn vertical tasting because of all the reasonable selection.

[Di Blasi]

...I quite enjoy the smoothness and sweetness of longmorn, I am extremely suprised that in my mind a quality malt isn't sold more widely, it can't be found in Manchester, I was fortunate to buy a bottle in Schipol airport...

I guess we in Ontario have your share over here. We have the 15yr OB and TONS of IB's from G&M, OMC, Hart Bros, CC etc.. In fact, I am thinking of doing a Longmorn vertical tasting because of all the reasonable selection.

Gotta let us know the results of that vertical tasting, to help us out in choosing what to purchase whenever we come across more of that fine Longmorn Distillery! Have fun!

[BruceCrichton]

Great, thanks for the tips karlejnar! I'll be in Scotland, mostly Edinburgh, Aug. 28- Sept. 3, and building the plans now! I'm not sure how much we'll be touring around and out of Edinburgh, my girlfriend is not a whisky fan. But glad to get the tips cause maybe by then she'll fall in love with whisky?!

Gordon and Macphail bottle Longmorn at 12 (brilliant) and 25 (not had).

These are available in Royal Mile Whiskies and, probably, Jenners (Princes Street) and The Whisky shop (Waverley Market).

The 15 year old is available in most specialist shops.

[Lawrence]

Gordon and Macphail bottle Longmorn at 12 (brilliant) and 25 (not had).

My experience is the complete opposite, Gordon and Macphail bottle Longmorn at 25 (brilliant) and 12 (not had).

That's what makes a market.

Lawrence

[Frodo]

Gotta let us know the results of that vertical tasting, to help us out in choosing what to purchase whenever we come across more of that fine Longmorn Distillery! Have fun!

Will do. I'm actually working on planning a total of 3 tastings so far:

1) 7 whiskies from Islay. (Have 4)
2) A Longmorn vertical tasting (I'm thinking 4 expressions - have 2).
3) A flat (or Horizontal) tasting of Blanco Tequila and Mezcal. I'm thinking about 5 or 6 bottles in Total. I think I may be one or two short here.

I'm closest to #2 & 3.

[Danny]

I think Longmorn would do well to expand thier range. Like the 15 year and have a Murray McDavid that is really nice also.

Frodo, your tastings look awesome, I always end up up horizontal when tasting Tequila

[Frodo]

Thanks! I'll post when they happen - not for a while though I'm afraid.

[Admiral]

The best Longmorns seem to come from the IB's.

The G+M 25yo is a very tasty, albeit it a little soft.

I've had a few SMWS Longmorns, and they've been absolute corkers!

7.28 - a 36yo, was spectacular (old sherry butt)
7.32 - mid-teens, very nice and more-ish
7.35 - a 38yo, an elixir, almost liqueur like! (old sherry butt)

The last OB 15yo I had was quite hot, and it was the subject of quite a discussion on these pages, probably about 18months to two years ago.

Cheers,
Admiral

[The Fachan]

Folks,

Wanted to let you know that Longmorn will be changing on O& to a 16yo non-chill filtered version.
Might get the real deal from the distillery now!!!!!

[Wave]

The best Longmorns seem to come from the IB's.

Quite agreed though the 15yo is still very good.
Atm a Longmorn 27yr old 1973 Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Rare Reserve is my favorite.
...and I have 1 more in back-up!


Cheers!

[Leither]

Just dredging up this thread to highlight the following:

http://www.luxist.com/2007/03/05/longmorn-whisky

I'm looking forward to this being launched, but wonder how much different it will be from the OB 15yo currently at 45% ie re-launched with an age statement of 1 year older at 16 years and 1% more ABV at 46%. Perhaps the main change being now non-chillfiltered.

I imagine it being positioned as a 'super-premium' malt will also no doubt result in a super-premium price.

[les taylor]

It seems many of these distilleries are repackaging at the moment and tweaking their age statements I wonder why that is? If they all repositioned themselves in the market, don't they all end up where they started from?

[Lawrence]

I think everybody is preparing for general prices rises, with the end of a lot of supermarket contracts the industry is repositioning and moving their products up into the luxury bracket. Even toothpaste (which is not a luxury product) is bestowed with new labels etc every once in a while.

Stock up now.

[mithril]

I quite enjoy the smoothness and sweetness of longmorn, I am extremely suprised that in my mind a quality malt isn't sold more widely, it can't be found in Manchester, I was fortunate to buy a bottle in Schipol airport, but comeone Longmorn, you have a wonderul whisky, sell it to the public, they are waiting to taste your wares!!

This may help http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/catego ... _id=D_LNGM

[toshie]

I imagine it being positioned as a 'super-premium' malt will also no doubt result in a super-premium price.

Looks like £50 here

[mithril]

I imagine it being positioned as a 'super-premium' malt will also no doubt result in a super-premium price.

Looks like £50 here

The 15 YO is listed at £32.95 (Inc VAT) at the Royal Mile Whiskies link above.

[lbacha]

I have to guess that alot of the reaging has to do with marketing as well, if you were selling the 15 at $50.00 a bottle then raised the price people would scream, look at Macallan for a good example. But on the other hand if you change the product completly by giving it a new age then you can charge more and people won't call you Macallan behind your back.

Len

[karlejnar]

Looks like £50 here

Is it allready in the shops?

Seems to me to be a bit pricy. Compared to the 17yo Cask Strength which is £34 for a 50cl bottle - translates to £47.6 for 70cl. And that one is 58.3% compared to 46%
But then there is no box - only a thin paper wrapping

Only catch is - you have to go to one of the Chivas distilleries to get it

Royal Mile Whiskies doesn't seem to have it online yet.

[Deactivated Member]

I think repackaging/reaging/repositioning is potentially a healthy thing, if it is based on a periodic reassessment of available stocks, with an eye toward putting the distillery's best foot forward. Anyone who has been at this for a while knows that "standard" expressions last for only so long. It's simply not realistic to think that any given bottling is going to be there forever. It's sad to lose a favorite, of course, but there's always something new around the corner. Isn't that what life is all about? Nothing is constant but change.

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

not sure if this is redundant here but I just read somewhere that a new OB 48% non chill-filtered is on the way.

Greetings
kallaskander

[Drrich1965]

My longwinded tasting notes of the three thta I have had. 75 for me is an average single. In honor of the post, I am having a dram of the D and M Longmorn listed below....

67 Sm Longmorn-Glenlivet 12yo (40%, G & M, "Pure Malt" circa1985, 50ml) Christmas Day 2006. Nose: Dry fruit, just a hint. Toffee. Mouth: Initial impressions are not so good. Very cluttered with sherry that is not very sweet, and perhaps caramel. It has that artificial, interfered with taste that I have found, for example, in Aberlour 10.Certainly deep amber color can indicate interferences, especially scene I am not getting a ton of strong sherry and spice, and it s not that old. Finish: A bit bitter, with some spices that are a dull. I like my malt whisky to taste a bit like whisky, and I am just not finding that here. January 6th. The last of the old G and M samples I am re-trying. The nose on this one is by far the best of the lot. In addition to some dry fruit (as noted before), there are some gentle spices. Maybe a bit of vanilla. After a few minutes, some malt comes out to play, just a bit. Again, same assessment. Some spicy notes want to come out, but are slapped down.


77 Sm Longmorn 15yo (45%,OB, circa 2005) Nose: A touch of sour apple candy (a good smell). Malty and firm. Not to powerful, just firm. Mouth: Spicy and malty. First the cinnamon spice than the malt. It needs a few minutes of breathing to bring out some of its complexity and balance. When I say complexity, I felt I had to work hard to find the elements. Finish: Very spicy, cinnamon and white pepper perhaps. Nice dram, but somehow it is not letting me in. I will need to try this again sometime. With Jill at the Capital Grill Charlotte. The night before our anniversary, 2006. The bottle was full and only a couple of months old.


83 Sm Longmorn 31yo1975 (46%, D&M, NCNCF) February 12, 2007. Today my writing book was officially published. It will be mailed in a week. No better way to celebrate than to open an a new malt. I let Jill choose which one from the D and M bottles I have not opened yet. This is the one she picked. The nose: Oak spice and mild berries. A sniff of peat. Malt may be learning. Similar profile as the D and M 1979 Glenlivet, but not as rich. Mouth: Gentle oak spice again, and peat again. Dry, a bit austere, classy and enjoyable. Finish: Dry, spicy, long. Thirst few impressions are that it is an old malt but not overly so. It does have a similar provide as the 1979 Glenlivet, but not nearly as complex, balanced or sweet. Still, a very good old malt. Maybe over time it becomes great. We shall see. Initial score will be a 83.

[Ann-Helen]

I have longmorn 15 yo standing around it`s not one of my favourites.
I kind of tought it was dull
It`s been awhile now since I tasted it so I`ll try it again and see if I still find it dull.