Linkwood is just not a horny distillery, proper? Certain there’s the Linkwood 1973 for TWE and a few different actually good Nineteen Seventies casks, however youthful examples are typically very middle-of-the-road in my expertise. Usually vertical whisky, with a slim profile on barley, yeast and water. Wait…
Let’s see whether or not we have to change our opinion after making an attempt three casks bottled by the Thompson Brothers, The Whiskyfind and The Style of Whisky.
Linkwood 10 yo 2011 (55,7%, Thompson Bros for Choose Spirits 2021, dechar / rechar hogshead)
Nostril: the scent of grinding barley, with boiled potato water, a whole lot of porridge and sunflower oil. Very mashy and gristy, with a cool lactic contact. Some baking spice within the background, in addition to some lemon and lemongrass tea.
Mouth: apples with loads of citrus zest. Grapefruit peels. Then drier chalky notes and a whole lot of grass. White pepper and nutmeg, liquorice and lime. Nonetheless a really mashy, grainy core with some inexperienced, leafy hints in addition to some unripe pear.
End: medium size, on malty notes, grasses, lemon peel and a peppery burn.
For me this can be a typical blender’s whisky, missing brightness and something to get enthusiastic about. Not my kinda profile. I believe that is nonetheless on its approach to Australia, however I’m not totally certain. Control their web site.
Linkwood 12 yo 2009 (57,6%, The Whiskyfind for Picnic Bar 2021, bourbon barrel #559329, 223 btl.)
Nostril: higher, much less mashy and porridgy. Some rounder notes like banana and custard cream. Pear drops and grape juice. Later it turns extra in direction of sourdough, lemon zest and a bit ale. The floral freshness makes this brighter and extra nice.
Mouth: sweeter and ever so barely fruitier. Unripe pineapple, lemon sweet and floral honey. Then additionally refined mint, inexperienced tea and white pepper. A candy grassy contact and refined wax in direction of the tip.
End: medium lengthy, grapefruity, with a lightweight biscuity be aware and a grassy edge.
Nonetheless clearly a member of the identical household, however the added fruity touches and roundness makes this whisky extra nice for my part. Rating: 84/100
Linkwood 12 yo 2010 (57,5%, The Style of Whisky ‘Pin-up Women’ 2022, sherry butt #302799, 247 btl.)
Nostril: not a wham-bam sherry bomb however the affect is simple to note nonetheless. Crimson apples, poached pears, with refined vanilla and candy oranges. Faint hints of caramelized hazelnut and refined hints of natural tea. When it comes to complexity this outclasses the opposite two.
Mouth: extra orange sweetness, dried apricots and pears. Then the backing combo cinnamon / clove / pepper comes out. Then a lightweight alcohol burn. A refined natural bitterness too. Within the middle there are nonetheless beneficiant malty notes.
End: medium lengthy, with a lightweight metallic be aware, gentle cocoa and natural sweetness.
Once more a barely interchangeable spirit however the sherry helps to elevate this greater. Total fairly good, with a well-dosed Spanish affect. Extra data from TTOW. Rating: 85/100
