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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
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July 9, 2025
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| Linkwood when A was nonetheless standing (geograph) |
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There’s been fairly a little bit of Linkwood among the many independents recently, and we’re actually not complaining. Particularly since we’ve additionally bought a Linkwood from the previous distillery up our sleeve – simply wait and see… Let me remind you that Linkwood A was the unique distillery, based in 182, with manufacturing beginning round 1824/1825. In 1971, a second facility, Linkwood B, was constructed subsequent to it to extend manufacturing capability. From 1971 to 1985, each Linkwood A and B operated in parallel. In 1985, the unique distillery was completely closed (and demolished round twelve years in the past) and solely Linkwood B remained lively. Every part we’re going to style, then, comes from Linkwood B, besides the final one.
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Linkwood 9 yo 2015/2025 (50%, Elevenses Whisky, Fairgound Delight, refill bourbon hogshead, 694 bottles) 
Some newcomers to the scene, I presume, as I’d by no means heard of Elevenses earlier than. The bottle’s fairly amusing, it’s a bit harking back to Spanish grapeseed oil, and the value is sort of as affordable as that of precise grapeseed oil in Spain. Color: pale white wine. Nostril: it’s recent, youthful, very near the distillate, with notes of gherkin brine, pear juice and sunflower oil. That is clearly all concerning the uncooked supplies. With water: a contact of geranium blossom, some cake batter, and a slight saponification after dilution… Mouth (neat): curiously a tad saline, in any other case fairly barley-forward with hints of fruit peelings, apples… With water: extra malty and extra floral, even barely peppery however that’s in all probability simply its youth exhibiting. End: medium size, on pear and nonetheless that faintly saline edge. Feedback: jolly nice and above all very pure.
SGP:551 – 83 factors. |
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Linkwood 8 yo 2016/2024 (57.8%, Aromatic Drops, oloroso quarter casks, casks # 29791-29792, 294 bottles) 
From the identical father or mother firm, it could appear. The whisky’s pedigree, nevertheless, is clearly heading in the wrong way… Color: amber. Nostril: coconutty oak, walnut wine, dried figs, dates, sultanas… All very nice certainly. With water: tobacco and Thai broth. Mouth (neat): creamy, on candied ginger and coriander seeds (the oak once more), orange marmalade, a contact of yellow curry, dates… With water: works a deal with, a stunning spicy, peppery profile with candy paprika and lemon-tree honey. End: lengthy, spicier nonetheless, with an enormous gingery comeback. Feedback: severe work with these quarter casks, you both prefer it otherwise you don’t, however there’s no denying it’s been very properly crafted and tightly steered.
SGP:561 – 85 factors. |
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Linkwood 10 yo 2013/2023 (57.1%, The Whisky Trade, Seasons: Spring, refill bourbon barrels, cask # 307180)
Color: white wine. Nostril: pure pears and cherry clafoutis. With water: a drop of barley syrup. Mouth (neat): fairly excellent, taut as a bowstring and bursting with fruit. Pear eau-de-vie straight off the nonetheless, with just a few dashes of vanilla for good measure. With water: no main adjustments. End: lengthy, similar story, clear and recent. And really a lot on the pear. Feedback: barely harking back to the Elevenses however with a bit extra chew. Beautiful bottle.
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
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Linkwood 15 yo 2009/2025 (56.2%, Signatory Classic, Symington’s Selection, 1st fill oloroso sherry butt, cask #8, 683 bottles)
They’ve actually develop into the emperors of sherry at Signatory over the previous couple of years, haven’t they, with some fairly prime area left vacant by sure main Speyside distilleries. Color: mahogany. Nostril: that is the anticipated model, cedarwood, touches of graphite, chocolate, umami notes, a stunning meaty character, and a few correct Corinthian raisins… With water: in come mentholated and camphory touches, although the cedar stays firmly in place. Pencil shavings. Mouth (neat): oh, excellent, extra on the earthy aspect, black pepper, liquorice, walnut liqueur (massive time) … With water: much more highly effective, loaded with spices and wooden extracts, but oddly sufficient, steadiness has been struck. End: lengthy, virtually thick, nonetheless on pepper and cedarwood. Feedback: this one actually speaks volumes. Undoubtedly a bottle to cellar for, say, thirty years, simply to easy out the corners.
SGP:462 – 87 factors. |
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Linkwood 16 yo 2008/2025 (58.7%, Signatory Classic, The Whisky Trade unique, Bourbon Cask Sequence, cask # 800064, 174 bottles)
Now this, that is certainly a intelligent one… Color: gold. Nostril: it’s oily but vibrant, with a contact of fusel oil, but in addition splendid yellow citrus and wild wee apples, service tree berries, jujubes and the like. All this on a panettone more energizing than a daisy at daybreak. Attractive vanilla cream, plus a sheet of carbon paper. Okay, Gen Z? With water: in comes motor oil and even a little bit of Bakelite. Boomer territory, barely. Mouth (neat): oh sure, recent, wealthy, but recent, but wealthy, on vanilla cream, sunflower oil, granny smiths and golden scrumptious. With water: lemony, fatty, excellent, recent, stunning apples. End: pretty lengthy, nonetheless on inexperienced apples, malt, and a really discreet vanilla + coconut combo. Quite sensible. Feedback: sure, excellent, actually taut.
SGP:551 – 87 factors. |
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It’s already time to wrap issues up…
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Linkwood 12 yo 1959 (43%, OB, for Samaroli Silvano, 2 litres, +/-1971) 
Right here comes Linkwood ‘A’! One of many very first imports by Silvano Samaroli! And bottled in a two-litre format no much less, therefore a ‘tremendous magnum’. There have been different vintages on this ‘black label’ collection, 1958, 1960… However not in tremendous magnum, I consider, these are exceedingly uncommon. Color: gold. Nostril: wait a second, I used to be mistaken, that is Sicilian olive oil blended with just a few drops of moped gas combine. Ex-Malaguti, maybe? This sort of opulent fatness might solely come from an old-school distillery, right here ‘previous’ Linkwood certainly. Beautiful little hints of charcoal, setting spray, ink, grated lemon zest… It’s the fatness and texture on the nostril that really impress. Mouth: to be sincere, there’s a touch of soapiness, a contact of light-struck flavour, however the remaining unfolds on plasticine, apple peel, walnut and almond skins, and above all that famously saline manzanilla character. End: similar once more, textured, oily, not exhibiting its age within the slightest. The barley itself stays as properly – simply think about, doubtless harvested in 1958! Feedback: let’s be sincere, that is clearly an previous malt for die-hard geeks, however right here’s to you, Silvano-in-the-sky!
SGP:352 – 89 factors (although emotionally, far more). |
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