Review

Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask Signatory The Whisky Exchange
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

58.8% ABV
$335
Website
Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask for TWE Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Signatory

What the Retailer Says

Matured in a single first-fill sherry butt for more than two decades, this 1996 Longmorn single malt was bottled by Signatory Vintage in August 2019, exclusively for The Whisky Exchange’s 20th Anniversary.
Bottling Date: August 2019
No of Bottles: 433
Cask Type: First-Fill Sherry Butt
Cask Number: 105100

Tasting Notes (from Billy Abbott)
Nose: To quote a certain anchorman: rich mahogany – both the colour and the first thing out of the glass. There are some leather-bound books as well, but beforehand this dives head-first into a bowl of dried fruit: dates, cherries, prunes and the expected raisins. There’s a touch of barrel-char smokiness behind the fruit, with a spoonful of brown sugar making sure it doesn’t get too much.
Palate: Softer than expected from the nose, but still thick and very rich. Malt loaf with cherry jam; liquorice sticks dipped in brown sugar; toasted schwarzbrot with honey. Clove-heavy speculaas biscuits sit at the back, with bitter liquorice pastels and a touch of charred oak.
Finish: Char and concentrated dried fruit hang around with an ever-changing cast of extras: cinnamon toast, blackcurrant jam, singed cloves and sweet liquorice.
Comment: A bit of a beast, but with more complexity than it has any right after 23 years in an active sherry cask. Endless layers of fruit spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit notes of figs, dates, raisins and cherries, leather, pipe tobacco smoke, oak and raw honey.
Palate:  Thick, viscous and rich with fig, cherry, honey, anise, a bit of cinnamon with cloves, nutmeg, chocolate, walnuts and oak.
Finish:  Long and drying with spiced dates and figs.
Comments:  The words ‘Longmorn’ and ‘Sherry’ combined translate (for me anyways) to ‘happy place’. I have many fond memories of sipping mature sherry-bomb Longmorns on different occasions with whiskey friends, where the dram was improved only by the company (but tasting this one alone – still pretty damned good!) The nose reminds me of sitting in a wood-paneled library full of old books, worn leather furniture and wisps of pipe tobacco in the air (and a rock glass of Scotch, of course). A bit of water brings out a note of blood orange on the nose, and tilts the palate from chocolate towards caramel – but again, this is one I absolutely love neat.

Rating: Must Buy

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Compass Box Crimson Casks

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Crimson Casks
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$75
Website
Compass Box Crimson Casks Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Compass Box for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Majestic, rich and balanced intensity.

TRANSFORMATIVE SHERRY CASKS
The crown of oak speaks volumes. Its message can be read like the rings of a tree. For this is our majestic king, and his influence over our realm of flavour is unmistakable.​

A regal sage, he is our timeless connection to the ancient forest and the power of nature. And in his hands, this power does not corrupt. It transforms. When he emerges from the woodland, he brings to our blending table the magic of metamorphosis.​

His touch is there in the way he imparts a warm, generous nuttiness into every fibre of our crimson casks. And the result? A domino effect of spicy, sherried richness. Liquid into wood, into liquid again, intensifying at every moment. It feels near miraculous.​

Yet there is method in this magic. Our mysterious visitor is no wizard of the woods, no trickster dancing with abandon between the branches. We understand each other deeply, and the profound​ knowledge of flavour he has gathered through time immeasurable is his greatest gift.​

And by sharing this gift with us, he is strengthening the roots that have always entwined the human spirit with the forest.​

Heavy may be the head that wears the crown, but he carries it like the most kindly of kings. He is magisterial. Powerful. Yet balanced by a benevolent generosity that says ‘what’s mine is yours – enjoy…’​

So, will you do him the honour?

Flavour profile
Chocolate fudge cake undercut with clove and cardamom, with hints of plum jam and redcurrant jelly, then rich cherry, toffee and oak, finished with raisin, honey and brown sugar.

Natural colour | Not chill-filtered | Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
First Released: 2024

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, dark fruits, sandalwood, leather, toffee, smoke, hint of balsamic and subtle earthiness.
Palate:  Creamy and rich with dark fruits, raisins, plums, cinnamon, honey, chocolate and earthy notes.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying slightly with earthy notes, cinnamon and fruit cake.
Comments:  The color on this dram advertises sherry and it delivers that in spades. Just an absolutely lovely whisky! Appreciate the 46% ABV (although I’ll bet I wouldn’t hate it at a few points higher, maybe a limited edition offering at cask strength in the future?) A bit of water introduces a more citrus bend on the palate, but I prefer this one neat. This was the second tasting sample I received (along with Nectarosity), and I liked this one the best.

Rating: Must Try

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Compass Box Nectarosity

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Nectarosity
Blended Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$65
Website
Compass Box Nectarosity Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Compass Box for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

WHISKY MEETS PATISSERIE
Behind the most exquisite patisseries are test kitchens of invention. Places buzzing with energy where chefs obsess over every flake of fractured crust, every curl of custard cream. Part artistry, part alchemy, this is mastery at work. And when their experimentation creates a true harmony of flavour, it has to be shared. Because generosity drives this endeavour. If nectar is the food of the gods, and joy comes from celebrating with others, then we need a new word for that irresistible urge.
And that word is ‘Nectarosity’.

Special American oak barrels are deployed twice. First to impart sweet spice to grain spirit, which finishes maturing in other casks. Once ‘prepared’, the barrels age malt whisky. We expertly blend these two characterful whiskies with selected others to dial up the fruit and toffee notes.

Joyously zesty with honey, lychee, juicy apricot and pineapple. Toffee and vanilla pull off a palate takeover, with lasting flavours of cinnamon bun.

Natural colour | Not chill-filtered | Blended Scotch Whisky
First Released: 2024

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and fruity, peaches, grapes, tangerines, tropical fruit notes of kiwi, candied pineapple and a hint of mango with wisps of heather.
Palate:  Bright and fruity, pears, peaches, cherries, apricots, creamy vanilla, honey and cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderately long and creamy with cinnamon, honey and tangerines.
Comments:  Delightfully fruity without being cloyingly so. Not overly complex but not meant to be – and priced to be enjoyed. I received this not as an industry sample but as a Compass Box fan that signed up for a tasting (which unfortunately circumstances prevented me from joining the live tasting, and while promised a video replay link I wasn’t able to find that anywhere). Both sample bottles were simply labeled N and C, with the teaser ‘Taste the Interesting’. Both were there, and hopefully bode well for the future of Compass Box.

Rating: Stands Out

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Blood Oath Pact No. 11

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Blood Oath Pact No. 11 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Añejo Tequila Barrels

49.3% ABV
$130
Website
Blood Oath Pact 11 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Añejo Tequila Barrels
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller and Master Blender John Rempe renews his annual pact with bourbon drinkers by releasing Blood Oath Pact 11 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Añejo Tequila Barrels. This year’s secret blend features a union of two well-bred bourbons – a 14-year ryed and a 10-year wheated – blended with an impressive 7-year ryed which was finished in barrels that held Añejo tequila. As with all of Rempe’s pacts, Blood Oath Pact 11 is offered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV).

Blood Oath Pact 11 will be available for in-person purchase while quantities last starting at 9:30 a.m. on April 26 at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky. Purchases are limited to one bottle of Blood Oath Pact 11 per purchaser, and no bottles will be held or shipped. Special snacks and sampling opportunities will be available for visitors enjoying the day at the distillery. For fans who are unable to visit in person, a limited supply of 17,000 (3-in) cases of Blood Oath Pact 11 will start arriving at retail in April at a minimum suggested retail price of $129.99 per 750 mL bottle.

Blood Oath Pact 11 combines three of the finest rare bourbons Rempe could find. The blend is elevated further by the Añejo-barrel finish which lends a distinctive complexity and richness to the pour.

“The tasting experience for Blood Oath Pact 11 begins with the warmth of vanilla and black pepper, sweetly infused with spice and oak,” said Rempe. “From there, notes of cherry and citrus subtly emerge, guiding towards a velvety finish highlighted by black cherry and decadent dark chocolate. It’s a gorgeous expression that’s sure to surprise and please bourbon and tequila drinkers alike.”

Although Rempe doesn’t reveal which famous bourbons were used for the Pact 11 blend, it’s no secret his appreciation for aged tequilas helped shape this year’s offering.

“Añejo tequila has delicious and rich notes due to its aging in bourbon barrels,” said Rempe. “By utilizing the Añejo barrels for this year’s Pact 11, we brought our bourbon full circle while picking up all of the best attributes and flavor notes along the way.”

Lux Row only releases one new Blood Oath Pact annually, and each limited edition features a distinctive label on an embossed glass bottle. This year, a mahogany-colored label with gold highlights adorns the Blood Oath Pact 11 bottle. And like its predecessors, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact 11 comes in a commemorative fire-branded wooden display box.

The official launch of Blood Oath Pact 11 will include a total allocation of 51,000 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy release. The first Trilogy featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018; the second Trilogy featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, was released in September 2021 in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month; and the third Blood Oath Trilogy, featuring Pacts 7, 8 and 9, was offered in 2023.

For more information or to find a bottle of Blood Oath Pact 11 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Añejo Tequila Barrels visit LuxRowDistillers.com.

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, grilled corn, orange zest, honey with a vegetal note.
Palate: Vanilla, cracked pepper, chili oil, lime, grapefruit and a bit of milk chocolate.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with vegetal notes.
Comments: The tequila influence is apparent, and while not overwhelming it does seem to mask the caramel notes one would typically associate with bourbon – especially bourbon with this much age (although not clear how much of the mix the 14 year and 10 year bourbons make up, but even 7 years old isn’t young!) I’m not particularly a big fan of tequila, and while this wasn’t objectionable necessarily it did leave me wanting for more of that caramel I enjoy in bourbon. The grilled corn and vegetal notes are interesting, and definitely something I associate more with tequila.

Rating: Stands Out

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Yellowstone Small Batch 107

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Yellowstone Small Batch 107
6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53.5% ABV
$45
Website
Yellowstone Small Batch 107 Six Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Lebanon, Kentucky-based Yellowstone Bourbon announced the release of Small Batch 107, a new permanent addition to the Yellowstone family. The elevated expression pays homage to the brand’s history while featuring several firsts for the family lineup. Small Batch is aged six years and the only variety in the Yellowstone portfolio to feature an age statement on packaging.

Bottled at 107 proof, the expression is one of the highest proof everyday offerings from Yellowstone. Due to the high proof, Small Batch is non-chill filtered, which allows the depth of flavors to stand out in this bold new bourbon. Yellowstone Small Batch 107 is available nationwide starting this month at a minimum suggested retail price of $44.99 per 750mL bottle.

Yellowstone Bourbon is one of the few bourbon brands available with a strong history of tradition and 150 years of continuous sales. To honor Yellowstone’s heritage and values, seventh-generation Founder and Master Distiller Stephen Beam crafted Small Batch 107 with expert care. As one of the most experienced experts in the industry, Beam made deliberate choices from the six-year age statement to the 107 proof point and more to create a new release that achieves the ideal balance of flavor and depth.

“Yellowstone was the top selling whiskey in Kentucky in the 1960s, and at the time, it was bottled at six years old,” said Beam. “I wanted to bring back that tradition and offer a product with a clear age statement, and the perfect entry level proof point at 107. This is a long time coming. We’ve had great success with special finishes but never had an age-stated product before Small Batch.”

Together, Small Batch’s six-year age statement, 107 proof point and non-chill-filtering process result in a bold flavor experience that’s great neat or over ice, and stands up well in a cocktail. With notes of caramel and vanilla with hints of chocolate and oak on the nose, Small Batch features intensified flavors of caramel, oak, honey and Yellowstone’s signature rich cherry notes.

“The higher proof brings out more flavors, and by non-chill filtering Small Batch we created a much more full-bodied product than a lower-proof chill filtered bourbon,” said Beam. “It’s the perfect addition to our family of offerings. Small Batch delivers on our heritage and tradition, bringing back memories of Yellowstone’s history, while also representing a natural progression in elevating the portfolio.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, chocolate, vanilla, raw walnuts and oak.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, caramel, milk chocolate, honey, cinnamon, black cherry, pepper and a bit of cloves.
Finish: Moderately long and syrupy with chocolate covered cherries.
Comments: If there’s a ‘perfect proof point’ (short of barrel strength), 107 might be it. This is delicious, and the non-chill filtration really shines through in both the mouthfeel and the finish. While delicious neat, this opens up nicely with just a few drops of water bringing out more cherry and a slight citrus note on the nose, and bringing the chocolate forward, bending towards toffee (and a touch of baked apples). Honestly not sure which I prefer! A well balanced pour that I look forward to enjoying all spring (if it lasts that long!)

Rating: Stand Out/Must Try

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