Established independent bottler, Morrison and Mackay, has undergone a transformation of late. Now named Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, the new company is also the owner of Aberargie Distillery in Perthshire whose first spirit came off the stills in October 2017.
Although there are no signs of an Aberargie first release on the horizon just yet, the company is releasing their new whisky portfolio in stages over the course of the next six months.
Càrn Mòr is the first to be revamped with three different series. First up is the Strictly Limited series consisting of small batch bottlings at 47.5%. Series 2 is the Celebration of the Cask series consisting of single cask bottlings at cask strength. And the third series is the Family Reserve. The press release indicates that this is the 'jewel in the crown' which might explain why I almost typed Family Jewels. Now you can see why a career in marketing never beckoned. The Family Reserve (not Jewels) series consists of limited and rare single casks.
What we have here is a trio from the Strictly Limited series. So, let's line dance with the Longmorn, do the mambo with the Mannochmore and waltz with the Williamson:
Nose: dry sawdust; fresh hay; lemon bonbons; hints of pear drops and pineapple cubes.
Palate: tinned pineapples; unripe peaches; the oak influence really comes through and gives a wee burn into the finish.
Overall: good, for the price, although that burn in to the finish is a little too harsh for me.
Nose: red apples; hints of new leather; blackberries and blackcurrants; Black Forest gâteau; blackberry jam.
Palate: dark chocolate and ginger; hint of Golden Syrup; Garibaldi biscuits; blackberry compôte heading in to the (long) finish.
Overall: this is a wee cracker and, at this price and by the time you read this, it'll probably have sold out everywhere. But fear not; you can always rely on the flippers: CLICK
Nose: Frazzles; BBQ sauce; grilled pineapple; BBQ smoke becoming more like a struck match after a while.
Palate: slightly waxy texture; mouthfuls of peat smoke and BBQ smoke; toffee apples next to a bonfire; hint of fresh ginger; slightly ashy in to the finish.
Overall: Really enjoyable. Bessie would have been pleased with this Laphroaig.
There's not a bad whisky here. My preference is definitely for the Mannochmore and, for someone who's found herself veering away from peated whiskies more and more lately (for no other reason than my tastes have started to change), I thought the Laphroaig was also pretty good. What I think is great, however, is the price. They really are great value drams.
Today (16th November 2020), The Whisky Shop Dufftown also has the Longmorn available at £49.95: CLICK
Many thanks to Hannah at Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers for these samples.
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