Home Tasting: Longmorn 1975-1990 14yo Intertrade 40%

Longmorn LONGMORN 1975-1990 14yo INTERTRADE 40% One of 360 bottles, Sherry Casks ※Tasting after six months from bottling - Aroma: A pleasant old-world character, gentle old sherry, lychee and mangosteen, a juicy grape quality, caramel, chocolate, herbal grassiness and leather from the depths, faint earthy peat. - Flavor: Expands from a gentle mouthfeel with juicy grape notes, ripe plums, tropical sensations of lychee and pineapple, concentrated fruity sweetness, a touch of tannin, plant-like herbal notes with a hint of bitterness, slight earthiness and leather, light old peat. - Aftertaste: A touch of plant bitterness lingers, but the finish is quite fruity and surprisingly long for its ABV. - Dilution: A small amount enhances the juiciness but reduces thickness, further dilution makes it thin and insipid. - Overall Evaluation: The 1975 vintage contains natural fruity notes with a tropical character reminiscent of earlier 1970s bottlings. Initially, it had an old-world dryness like dried shiitake mushrooms, but this faded after a few weeks and became negligible by around two months. The fruitiness also intensified, resulting in a deliciously matured whisky. [Good/Very Good] Intertrade's Longmorn 1975 The so-called Highlander label, with bottles from around 1969 or 1972 being legendary outliers that exceeded expectations. This 1975 bottling was my first experience of an Intertrade Longmorn, including for outdoor drinking. With a 40% ABV from sherry casks and approximately 26 years since bottling, I was initially hesitant but decided to open it during a Longmorn sharing event. While there were notable old-world characteristics and signs of aging, I found it somewhat disappointing at first. However, over time the off-flavors faded, and the expected tropical fruitiness intensified, resulting in a very enjoyable finish. Bottles like this are more suited for collectors than drinkers, and honestly, I was tempted to let it go in favor of something more drinkable. Nevertheless, as a stoic whisky drinker, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of carefully savoring it after opening.