For a few days now, a new independent Italian label has been circulating on the social media: it’s Milano Whisky Company, founded by two friends from Milan who have been running on the playing fields of uisge beatha for some time now, Enrico and Matteo. Their first release is an 8-year-old Longmorn, aged in an ex-Bourbon hogshead and bottled at the reduced – but high – strength of 55%.
N: it starts out a bit closed, with the wood quite evident (green wood, just like sawdust) but with time it gets cleaner and these scents tend to disappear. The typical Longmorn fruit looks seductive, with yellow apple, peaches, a little ripe kumqat. There are also pleasant ex-bourbon notes, with delicate custard and vanilla. All veined with a slight reminiscence of a slightly herbaceous yoghurt (?).
P: here the age of the distillate is more evident, but it is a good thing: it is an honest malt, with notes of cereals and porridge, not in isolation but integrated in a fruity and sugary profile, with hints of sugared almonds, vanilla, fruit candy. A touch of marzipan. Also hints of citrus fruit yoghurt.
F: rather long and sugary, with notes of abstract fruit.
Young and beautiful, it’s not a monster of complexity – perhaps it couldn’t be, at this age – but we really like this very pleasant fruity sugariness, which reminds us of the splendid and delicate elegance of the distillate of one of the queens of Scotland, Longmorn. 84/100. Excellent choice guys, it’s one of our beloved “whiskies that taste like whisky”, whose honest drinkability is almost frightening: one bottle might not be enough for an evening with friends, be warned.
Recommended soundtrack: Balthazar – Fever.
