Littlemill 40 Years Old Celestial Edition (OB, 46.8%, 250 bottles, 2018)

• ABV: 46.8%
• Age: 40 Years Old
• Bottling: OB, 250 Bottles
• Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £6,000
• Origin: Littlemill distillery
• Vintage: 1977

What they say

CELESTIAL EDITION

The spirit contained within Littlemill 40 Year Old, is the culmination of knowledge and experience, capturing the spirit of Duncan Thomas’ pioneering distilling processes.

The Celestial Edition has been matured in American oak and first fill bourbon barrels before a brief 3 month finish in Oloroso sherry. It is the oldest Littlemill release to date, distilled on 11th October 1977 and brings an excellent balance of both distillery character and wood influence.

THE BOTTLE

Each Littlemill 40 year old Celestial Edition decanter is made from the finest hand blown Glencairn Crystal, before being hand cut and finally individually engraved with its unique bottle number. The solid brass stopper is made in Glasgow and has a premium ‘fleur’ grade cork to ensure that the precious liquid remains secure within the decanter.

What I say

Distilled in 1977 and matured in American oak and 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels, this whisky was finished for 3 months in Oloroso sherry casks before bottling at 40 years old. Juts 250 bottles were produced at 46.8% ABV.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Pale gold (5/20), rare, oily, large tears leave strong legs.
• Nose: Fruity and much meatier than the 1992 vintage, figs, raisins, sweeter from the caks finish with slightly less wood and smoke and more maple syrup, candied/honeyed ham, walnut, cumin, allspice, clove, cumin seed, orange peel, apple, rosewater, elderflower, honeysuckle.
• Taste: Light-medium bodied again, toffee and butterscotch lead, pickled walnuts, fruit cake, raisin, fig, sharpness and salinity in this, perhaps a little sweet olive, tannic clove and cinnamon, black pepper and dark chocolate.
• Finish: Long, sweet, nutty, drying , leather and fresh sawdust, floral and woody sandalwood.

Overall

Definitely sherry influenced, perhaps some of the sweeter and dried fruit/nut flavours belie that cask-driven final maturation, however they do not mask that florality of Littlemill’s spirit character.

Score 92/100

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