1983 Mackillop's Choice Longmorn Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A relatively recent development in Scotch Whisky has been the growth of Independent Bottlers marketing single cask expressions of Malt Whisky as opposed to 'Official distillery' bottlings'. The latter are produced by vatting (or blending) together a large number of casks in order to ensure a consistent product which is of paramount importance to the distillery's brand.

Independent bottlers, on the other hand, take advantage of one of the enchanting mysteries of whisky production - namely, that even though individual casks of whisky are distilled on the same day and at the same distillery, the whiskies' flavours and tastes after barrel maturation may differ widely. So the secret of bottling excellent quality whiskies lies in the selection process. This is where independents like Lorne Mackillop step in. As a Master of Wine, Mackillop employs his extensive training and experience in the art of tasting to choose then bottle only those casks that have matured to achieve a perfect balance of flavours (in fact, approximately 80% of the cask samples tasted are rejected). The excitement of single cask whiskies is that one experiences a whisky that is unique with characteristics that cannot be repeated.

Within the 'Mackillop's Choice' range are whiskies from 12 to over 40 years of age, from distilleries across the various regions of Scotland . These include a number from distilleries that are now closed down or even demolished, thus making these whiskies rarer still. Longmorn's malt whisky is prized by blenders at least as highly as those of its sister distilleries ,Glen Grant and The Glenlivet. The distillery is a relative youngster, having been conceived in 1894 and born in 1895. It was founded by John Duff (who had previously built the Glenlossie distillery) and shares a site with Benriach. An old chapel once stood on the site of the distillery and the name itself means "Place of the Holy Man."
Distilled 7 March 1983. Bottled from cask 43043 August 2008. 55.7% Alc./Vol. No tasting notes available.

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