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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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July 10, 2024 |
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The Time Warp Sessions,
today new vs original Linkwood |
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The original Linkwood distillery as it appears on the 25-year-old
Sestante we are tasting today. |
It is important to remember that Linkwood was completely rebuilt in 1962, and then a second distillery was added in 1971-1972. The original distillery was closed in 1985. Therefore, today we will have some Linkwood from the contemporary distillery, which was expanded in 2012 by the way, exactly when our first whisky today was distilled, and some Linkwood from the original distillery, before it was rebuilt. |
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Linkwood 11 yo 2012/2023 (57.4%, Signatory Vintage, LMDW New Vibrations, first fill oloroso sherry butt finish, cask #106, 683 bottles) 
Here's a young Linkwood that should be brimming with vigour and sherry. Colour: dark amber. Nose: initial notes of coffee-schnapps, or even raspberry eau-de-vie followed by chocolate stuffed with raisins, then the usual green walnut liqueur (or nocino) and hints of tomato leaves. It’s quite soft for now, despite the high alcohol content, and well integrated. With water: it remains soft, moving towards chocolate dessert cream, Nutella, and kirsch. Mouth (neat): much more powerful on the palate, rather understandably, with marmalade, a small moka-spoonful of raspberry jelly, sultanas, coffee again, even Nescafé (found only in hotel rooms without espresso machines, right?), and definitely chocolates filled with liqueur or brandy. One is reminded of the excellent RumbaPfaumle from Kastner. With water: very good, very classic, rather mature for its young age. Lovely citrus notes in the background. Finish: continues on citrus, some candied, with a surprising salinity in the aftertaste. Comments: very representative of young independent Speysides matured in active, good quality sherry casks. Always works, everything seems under control.
SGP:551 - 86 points. |
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Linkwood 25 yo (40%, Sestante, 75cl, +/-1985) 
Here’s the original Linkwood. There was also a very good version ‘yellow brick label’ (not road) at 40% by Sestante, with the label borrowed from the famous Clynelish Royal Marine, which was much older. Beware though, one should be cautious with 40% vol. in such an old bottle... Alas, the 40 and 45 years in the same series are rather tired in my opinion, especially the 45. Colour: reddish amber. Nose: this time it’s not far from the style of Macallans of the era, with a slightly smoky side and sherry leaning heavily on fruitcake. Loads of dried figs, a hint of metal polish, very large and dark raisins, dried apricots, pipe tobacco, and high-class Darjeeling tea. It’s deep and complex, very seductive, elegant, with hints of peat, but of course, it’s on the palate where it all happens in these kinds of cases. Mouth: I think this is one of, if not the best in the series, even if we don’t have them all in front of us. The slight smokiness and all those dried fruits, and even the pipe tobacco, are well present. One would expect it to nosedive a bit in the middle of the palate, which it does. However, it doesn’t become too dry, too cardboardy, or overly caramelised. Some touches of honeyed ham. Finish: short but pleasant, more malty and leaning towards quality coffee and chocolate. The ham reappears at the very end with a hint of chicken broth with parsley and leek. Not bad at all! Comments: you know the refrain, what a pity it wasn’t bottled at a higher strength! But you can feel the extra complexity, texture, and 'dimensions' typical of those years in Scotland. A different time.
SGP:452 - 89 points. |
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