Home Sample Tasting: Longmorn 1964-1996 31 Year KINGSBURY #52

As expected, this was an exceptional bottle. Longmorn LONGMORN 1964-1996 31yo KINGSBURY #52 59.0% EX-SHERRY CASK The aroma is vibrant and expansive, immediately intoxicating. The first impression is natural, fresh lychee and guava, faint pineapple, grapefruit, white peach, white grapes, premium Darjeeling tea, refreshing mint, a subtle rustic barley note from the depths, refined oak, a faint dashi-like umami reminiscent of crab soup, and a light smoky note from dried grass. The aroma is truly remarkable. Upon tasting, it begins with a smooth mouthfeel that expands powerfully and richly. The flavors are as diverse and juicy as the aroma, with concentrated fruit juices, particularly a strong white grape note. It approaches the edge of perfume-like sexiness with floral notes, balanced by sweet and sour fruit juice tones. The subtle barley and oak provide depth, while a faint dashi-like umami and peat create an intoxicatingly long finish. [Very Good/Excellent] This is a Longmorn 1964, aged for 31 years, bottled by KINGSBURY in 1996. It was a sample shared by my whisky companion Garsu. Initially, the aroma seemed slightly closed when first poured, but after 15 minutes of observation, it opened up beautifully as described above. The intoxicating aroma immediately captivated me, with a powerful surge of juicy, diverse fruit notes. The natural tropical character was strong and free from chemical or artificial nuances, which left a very favorable impression. The minty and tea notes were prominent, with barley and peat undertones remaining. I was utterly intoxicated by its excellence. The flavor did not disappoint, delivering a strikingly juicy fruitiness. While some might perceive certain nuances as perfumy, I interpreted them as a sexy added element. It shared similarities with the 1968 vintage, also bottled for the Limburg Whisky Fair. I personally enjoyed this one as well. In terms of flavor, this is an exceptionally juicy Longmorn. It's rare to find such a fruity whisky without any chemical or artificial nuances, which makes it truly exceptional. The alcohol strength provides a robustness, and despite its long aging period, the oak is well-balanced, adding depth while maintaining equilibrium. This is an almost flawless Longmorn. I thoroughly enjoyed the intoxicating experience at home. Thank you very much, Garsu. As a side note, I had previously tasted this bottle in Yurakucho and was equally impressed by its aroma. However, another bottle of the same vintage that Garsu had opened earlier was extremely soapy, with a soap-like bitterness that made it difficult to drink. It's remarkable that someone still had the same bottle and decided to try again, but this current one was truly exceptional. There was no trace of soapy bitterness, and I'm still puzzled about what the previous bottle contained. Natural and juicy—such an outstanding bottle is truly rare to encounter.