Littlemill (1991/2016) - Gordon & Company
A Littlemill from January 1991, matured for 25 years in cask no. 113 and bottled in June 2016 by Gordon & Company in their Pearls of Scotland range at a robust 52.8%, limited to just 248 bottles. A closed distillery, a single cask, a quarter-century of patience. What lands in the glass is floral Lowland artistry with an herbal soul and more power than you'd ever expect from a Littlemill.
The panel
Mean 88.5 · spread 1
Value for money 0/5
- Distillery
- Littlemill
- Bottler
- Gordon & Company
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Lowlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 25 years
- Strength
- 52.8% ABV
- Character
- floral
Tasting
Nose
Floral and vegetal. Like stepping into a damp, warm greenhouse. Rhubarb and strawberries open up, accompanied by black pepper and a dry spiciness. Behind them, a basket of yellow fruits lurks, apricots above all, that never quite push to the foreground, instead staying quietly in the background. Dried grass and hay meadow, green tea and the faintest summer honey. Typical Littlemill markers, instantly recognisable. Well-balanced, almost fresh.
Palate
Powerful and fruity – here the yellow fruits finally step forward. Oily, melting, candied and syrupy. Ripe honeydew melon, rhubarb and gooseberry. Malty sweetness and a touch of shortbread. But the plant side stays loyal, a colourful bouquet of kitchen herbs with tarragon and plenty of peppermint. Robust spiciness, pepper and oak bring power. Juicy flower stems and an almost tangible freshness. Considerably herbal and powerful, with real complexity.
Finish
Extremely long and dry. Loads of pepper, peppermint tea and menthol. The mint practically rises into the nostrils. A touch of cinnamon and green wood on the tongue. The vegetal side takes over completely and lingers endlessly. Multilayered, with an oak power that's perfectly dosed after 25 years.
Verdicts
Marcel
The oak brings a lot here, not blunt, but multilayered. The herbal, vegetal side dominates and won't appeal to everyone, but that's precisely what makes this Littlemill so exciting. If you're looking for floral Lowlanders with character, this is it. And the finish? Endless.
Sascha
Typical Littlemill character with the expected markers: floral, vegetal, almost fresh. The yellow fruits that lurk cautiously in the nose practically explode on the palate. Oily, candied, wonderful. It can be a touch too herbal compared to the fruits, but that's a matter of taste. A fine piece from a distillery that sadly no longer exists.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Littlemill as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £249 across 80 lots · 2024-08