Longmorn 1969-2000 30 Year Old Arran Japan (Now Whisk-E) 'The Single Cask Collection' #4251

This is the whisky that awakened me. Longmorn LONGMORN 1969-2000 30yo ARRAN JAPAN (WHISK-E) 'THE SINGLE CASK COLLECTION' #4251 53%, one of 143 bottles, BOURBON HOGSHEAD ・Aroma: A strong opening with an intoxicating sense of euphoria, a solid estery note, fresh yet matured fruit aromas with lychee, passion fruit, peach, a noble grape-like sensation reminiscent of aged Cognac, slightly ripe muscat and ham melon, organic solvent or Semedain, vanilla, cream, yellow flowers, fresh mint, a faint grainy note in the background, subtle peat and dashi-like nuances, with an alluringly sensual undertone. ・Flavor: A strong and diverse fruitiness that matches the aroma, with lychee, passion fruit, aged Cognac, a clear sensation of dripping fruity juices, slight chemical notes, an oily texture clinging to the tongue, a rich and dense sweetness and acidity of fruits, a pleasant oakiness that deepens and tightens the flavor, with a sensual and intoxicating body. ・Finish: Grape-like notes of Cognac, a slightly pure pot still-like oily and tropical nuance, alongside a faint old peat undertone, all lingering with some spiciness. ・Dilution: The intoxicating sensation remains intact without breaking down. ・Overall Impression: Impressively intoxicating fruitiness with a distinct Semedain-like Longmorn character from 1969. The droplet-like juice sensation of grapes and tropical fruits is captivating, with a sensual and sexy nuance. Even after 15 years since bottling, it remains lively and vibrant. While some chemical nuances reminiscent of Benriach from the same era subtly emerge, the natural juice and fruitiness clearly dominate, offering a wonderful sensory experience with its sexy undertones. [Very Good/Excellent] This Longmorn 1969, aged for 30 years, was bottled in 2000 as part of Arran Japan (now Whisk-E)'s Single Cask Collection. It is a bottle that Mr. Moriya, who selected the casks, called the series' number one, and it is my awakening malt. As described above, this is an exceptional bottle with a diverse and outstanding fruitiness and sensual nuances. Honestly, upon re-tasting it now, some slight chemical notes or a thinner grainy sensation might be noticeable. However, the vivid memory of my first experience overwhelms any current analytical thoughts. As I mentioned earlier, this bottle was the one that awakened me. At a time when I had been quietly tasting bottles bought like an otaku for years, Mr. Moriya recommended it to me at a Scottish whisky event, and I drank it with courage. It felt like seeing the ocean for the first time after living in a well—expansive, effortless joy of sensing emerging aromas and flavors. It's a special bottle that truly changed my life. Afterward, I've tasted many Longmorn bottles, including those from 1969, and encountered numerous similar ones. Objectively speaking, I've also come across bottles that surpass this one. However, this bottle is special. It cannot be evaluated without sentiment.