Littlemill 40Y 0,75L 46,8% + 0,05L tasting btl.

Littlemill 40 Year Old Celestial Edition is an exceptionally rare Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the defunct Littlemill distillery. It was distilled on October 11, 1977 and, after four decades of aging, was released as the oldest Littlemill whisky available at the time. Only 250 individually numbered decanters were produced worldwide.

The whisky was initially aged in a combination of American oak barrels and first-fill bourbon barrels. It spent its final three months in Oloroso sherry casks, which added another layer of dried fruit and spice to its long-aged fruity and floral character. It was bottled at 46.8% ABV.

Master Blender Michael Henry was responsible for the final selection and oversight of the remaining Littlemill stocks; he is now in charge of preserving the character of the whiskey from this now-defunct distillery.

Tasting Profile:

Nose: Floral notes of honeysuckle and elderflower complemented by a delicate honeyed sweetness, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Taste: Fresh green apple and pineapple give way to grapefruit and lime. These are followed by richer notes of sultanas and raisins, complemented by sweet vanilla caramel.

Finish: Long and layered. Gooseberry and kiwi gradually give way to warm notes of cinnamon and cloves.

Decanter and Collector’s Packaging:

Littlemill 40 Year Old Celestial Edition is bottled in a hand-blown Glencairn Crystal decanter, which is hand-cut and individually engraved with the specific bottle number. The solid brass stopper was crafted in Glasgow and fitted with a high-quality cork.

The luxurious presentation box depicts the night sky above the Littlemill distillery at the time of the whisky’s distillation. The package also includes a separate 5 cl sample of the same 40-year-old whisky, so you can taste it without opening the main collector’s decanter.

About the Littlemill Distillery:

Littlemill was a historic Scottish distillery located in Bowling on the banks of the River Clyde, near Glasgow. Its history dates back to the 18th century, and the brand claims it was the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland. The year 1772 was preserved on one of the warehouses for more than two centuries, and an official record dated November 2, 1773, has been preserved regarding a license granted to Robert Muir of Littlemill to sell beer and other taxed spirits.

Duncan Thomas opened an important chapter in its history in the 1930s. Under his leadership, the distillery switched from the traditional Lowland triple distillation to double distillation and experimented with unusual hybrid stills equipped with rectification columns. Thanks to these, it was able to produce several different styles of whiskey, ranging from the light and delicate Littlemill to the experimental peated Dumbuck and the fuller-bodied Dunglass.

Littlemill ceased production in 1994; a few years later, most of the complex was dismantled, and in 2004, a fire destroyed the remaining parts of the distillery.

No new whisky will ever be produced here again, so current releases come exclusively from limited stocks of historic casks. Their selection is now overseen by Master Blender Michael Henry, who strives to preserve Littlemill’s characteristic light, floral, and fruity character for these final limited-edition bottlings.