Littlemill 22 Year Old 1989 Archives

WhiskyBase, the well known whisky community, has its own shop and own bottlings. In their ‘Inaugural Release’ you will find four whiskies: Caol Ila 2000, Clynelish 1997, Strathmill 1974 and this Littlemill from 1989. The bronze colour reveals that this is a sherry cask.

Oh my god! This is Littlemill? It has nothing in common with the sympathetic Lowlander I am used to. I take a second look at the label. It says 1989. I thought it would say 1969. The nose contains dark, stewed and dried fruit, especially apricots and mango with a couple of mint leafs. But what makes this so special is that it contains an extraordinary mix of old leather, almond paste, tobacco and mould. I can see myself sitting in a dusty attic with a cigar between the lips and a box of raisins in the other, while arranging some dried flowers! A complex, (apparently) old Littlemill. Out of this world!

(after twenty minutes, I kid you not)

The attack is very creamy, spicy and sweet, but soon turns bitter. Resin, oak, black tea. The fruit from the nose hardly gets a chance to show itself. The wood talks too loud. Unfortunately (for me, anyway), it goes over the top.

The finish makes amends, though, through length and intensity. The bitterness does not bother here, because it fades softly. At the death: orange zest with a sugared lining.

Ah, this is a wonderful bottle for the nose alone. I enjoyed it for twenty intense minutes. It does not quite deliver on the palate, making him dive below 90 points. All in all, this is an amazing whisky. A very special Littlemill that feels a lot older than its true age. Around 120 EUR.

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