Lismore
- INDEPENDENT BOTTLER
- OWNER: WILLIAM LUNDIE &. CO
Owned by William Lundie &. Co., Lismore is a true “silent” malt: no one knows where it comes from, and Lundie isn’t talking. Oddly, though it is named after an island off Scotland’s western coast, its style is pure Speyside.
Lismore
- PRICE $ · RATING NR
- AGE No age statement
- ALC/VOL 40%
- NOSE Orange drink, cherries, floor polish, herbal tea, and intense floral notes of lavender and honeysuckle; water opens and deepens it, even at such a low proof.
- PALATE White wine, wet grain, metallic; water doesn’t do much. The finish is astringent and cloying, though a bit spicy with water.
- GENERAL Like many low-end single malts, the nose is fine, even above average, but the palate is a wreck—diluted, unclear, uninteresting.
Lismore
Aged 15 Years
- PRICE $ · RATING
- AGE 15 years old
- ALC/VOL 40%
- NOSE Vanilla, black tea, honey, sweetly floral, caramel, and a whiff of oak; it gets loamy and nutty with a bit of water.
- PALATE A thin, wan mouthfeel, with pumpkin, vanilla, and cocoa powder; water adds a bit of citrus, vanilla, and diluted orange drink. The finish is quick and smooth, with a sheen of mint.
- GENERAL Like the non-age-statement expression, the nose entrances, but the palate disappoints. One can only imagine what it would be at 86 or 92 proof.
Aged 18 Years
- PRICE $$ · RATING
- AGE 18 years old
- ALC/VOL 43%
- NOSE Anise, port, soy, horehound candy, and rum raisin; water brings out brown sugar and a distinct minerality.
- PALATE Medium mouthfeel, spicy up front, salty, tamarind; with water it’s richer and darker. The short finish is slightly jammy and peppery.
- GENERAL A great whisky for the price—a bit thin on the palate, and not quite round enough, but with enough complexity to pull it through.
Lismore
Aged 21 Years
Maybe the best part about this whisky is the packaging: It comes in a faux-leather-wrapped tube.
- PRICE $$$ · RATING
- AGE 21 years old
- ALC/VOL 43%
- NOSE Rubber gasket, linseed oil, stale chips, overripe bananas, and mushrooms; a little water brings out caramel and vanilla.
- PALATE A thin-to-medium mouthfeel that opens with vanilla, then grows astringent and spicy; the finish is short and astringent. Water underlines the spiciness with ginger and white pepper.
- GENERAL A bit like a bourbon with its spice and vanilla notes, but if anything it’s over-oaked, with too much wood influence. Water is important here—despite the low proof, it’s a must.