Littlemill 8yo (bottled 1980s)

Littlemill 8yo (bottled 1980s)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw

40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, magic marker, pencil lead, autumn leaves, white grapes, jasmine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour. Pencil lead, malted grains, white grapes, pear drops, pear juice, cinnamon, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Long. Leather, pencil lead, magic marker, celery salt, pear juice. 

Comments: 

A really bright and vibrant Littlemill, not much old bottle effect. Some feinty, slightly metallic and earthy notes on the tongue, but it’s mainly fruity and floral. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Littlemill 21yo 1991/2012

Littlemill 21yo 1991/2012

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden, hints of green
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried mangoes, lemon sweets, fresh cut grass, starfruit, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, thickens, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried mangoes, barley sugar, fresh cut grass, starfruit, lemon sweets, leather, toast. 
Finish: Long. Starfruit, leather, toast, lemon sweets, honey. 

Comments: 

Lots of delicious tropical fruit flavours, and perhaps a smidgen of old bottle effect. The leathery, slightly savoury finish is a delight. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Littlemill 29yo

Littlemill 29yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
47.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, peaches, winter melon, honeycomb, raisins, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Chocolate, peaches, cornflakes, winter melon, honeycomb, hints of coffee, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, leather, peaches, winter melon. 

Comments: 

Well, well, an official Littlemill. I doubt there will be many more times where I will get to taste this, one of my favourite distilleries. This one is complex and sweet, spry and bright, it wears its years lightly. There's sweet notes, bitter notes and fruity notes, all very well balanced and intense.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Littlemill 21 yo 1991/2013

Littlemill 21 yo 1991/2013

Douglas Laing, Old Malt Cask
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, vanilla, tobacco leaf, honey, dried apples, hints of kiwifruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, turns watery, airy. 
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, strawberries, kiwifruit, cream, sugarcane, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, kiwifruit, dried apples, oolong tea. 

Comments: 

Sherry matured Littlemill (apparently a refill hogshead, but there must have been a lot left). It's chockfull of the usual red grapes and tobacco leaf, but there's an airy honeyed quality, and the oak is very apparent. Good stuff, really appley on the tongue. My first Littlemill in a while, I didn't think I'd be drinking any more, to be honest.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Littlemill 12 yo

Littlemill 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, vanilla, honey, yoghurt, new mown grass.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, orange peel, chocolate chips, vanilla, honey, straw.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, chocolate chips, orange peel, honey.

Comments:

Well, it's good to be back, after nearly 6 months off the whisky! While I have to go sparingly from now on, I can at least enjoy a dram occasionally. This little sample bottle is quite a tasty little treat from the dwindling Littlemill stock. Quite light, with sweet yet fresh flavours. There's a curious grassy twist on the nose that dries out a little on the tongue, reminding me of hay or straw. A nice one to come back to!

Verdict:I like this.

Littlemill 16 yo 1991/2007

Littlemill 16 yo 1991/2007

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden, tinge of pink
43% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Roses, vanilla, honey, gooseberries, ginger, grass, hints of lemons.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, ginger, gooseberries, honey, orange peel, cream, hints of roses.
Finish: Medium. Gooseberries, grass, roses.

Comments:

Light and floral, with a nice herbal, vegetal something that reminds me of gooseberries laced with ginger wine. Refreshing, something to sip while relaxing at the bar, waiting for someone to show up.

Verdict:

I like this.

Littlemill 10 yo 1990/2001

Littlemill 10 yo 1990/2001

Signatory Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Lowlands
Very pale green
43% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Leather, lemons, hints of raisins, sea salt, plums, hints of grass.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly astringent, turns watery.
Tasting: Salty sour. Leather, lemons, grass, plums, mint, hints of honey, hints of raisins.
Finish: Short. Mint, grass, lemons, honey.

Comments:

Cask #2958. Very light and sour, with a strong element of sea salt. Smells strongly of leather, but not quite peat, with a very light, short, refreshing finish. This reminds me of Moroccan preserved lemons, where the lemon is steeped in salt for weeks, then served up as a condiment with sprigs of mint. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 97.17 (Littlemill 19 yo 1990/2009)

SMWS 97.17 (Littlemill 19 yo 1990/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Ginger gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coca cola, vanilla, honey, strawberries, grass, hints of marzipan.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, oily, a little hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, coca cola, strawberries, grass, lemon zest, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Long. Grass, lemon zest, vanilla.

Comments:

Sweet and luscious, nice sharp bite in the taste. This whisky would be great on ice, it tastes just like a coke float! Perfect for those hot summer days (like today).

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 97.13 (Littlemill 18 yo 1987/2008)

SMWS 97.13 (Littlemill 18 yo 1987/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Ginger gold
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, lemon zest, Seville oranges, honey, popcorn. With water, lemon curd, rhubarb.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens quickly, becomes syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Tutti frutti, pineapples, orange peel, cloves, chillies, honey, vanilla, hints of peaches. With water, less spicy, orange marmalade.
Finish: Long. Chillies, popcorn, cloves. With water, peaches.

Comments:

Excellent - gently but just a little feisty, like a young colt. Although the whisky is already 18 years old, and not very young anymore.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 97.16 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 97.16 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale orange gold
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, apples, rum and raisin, honey, orange peel, oak, hints of banana.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, apples, honey, bananas, orange peel, oak, hints of chillies.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, orange peel, peaches, honey.

Comments:

Lovely, lovely whisky. If there's a flaw, it's that the finish is too short. Sweet and tangy, with just a little hint of spice, and so much going on in it. It's the kind of whisky I would save for the birth of my first child...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Littlemill 16 yo 1990/2006

Littlemill 16 yo 1990/2006

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
50% ABV
Mini

Nose: Lemon sweets, peat, roast chicken, chocolate, hints of rose, hints of lavender.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, watery, volatile.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lemons, oat biscuits, butter, white grapes, orange peel.
Finish: Long. Light, lemons, gooseberries.

Comments:

DL Cask #2930. On nosing, doesn't smell like a Lowlands whisky, much less a Littlemill. Quite meaty, yet floral. However, the meaty notes disappear in the mouth, and it's wonderfully refreshing and light. Very, very nice. They really shouldn't have closed this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

SMWS 97.12 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 97.12 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, rose, popcorn, vanilla, white chocolate, magic marker, hints of peach. Water brings out ginger, and some harsh sour notes, almost vinegary.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slightly syrupy, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pineapples, peaches, lemons, limes, hints of butter, hints of vanilla. In contrast to the nose, water brings out soft buttery cookie dough.
Finish: Short. Fades quickly, pineapples, walnut skins.

Comments:

I would characterise this as a whisky that plays hide and seek with the taster, especially upon adding water. Neat, the nose is estery and chemical, and in the mouth it softens to fruity, citrus flavours. With water, the nose is sour and gingery, but softens to sweet dairy in the mouth. Very complex and interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.