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Dwelling
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| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) every day tastings. Santé! |
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Might 2, 2024
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Fairly a batch of Linkwood, half two
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| The brand new and a part of the unique Linkwood (geograph) |
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As a result of we actually had a great variety of them… Sadly no pre-WW2 G&M in the mean time… By the way in which, you will recall that there have been two Linkwood distilleries from 1971 to 1985, considerably much like what occurred at Clynelish/Brora. In any case, the unique distillery ceased operations in 1985, so solely vintages from earlier than that 12 months may originate from the unique Linkwood.
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Linkwood 12 yo 2010/2022 (57%, Whiskyschiff Luzern, oloroso, cask #300180, 240 bottles) 
The worth was 100 Swiss francs. I imagine this child was bottled by Courageous New Spirits/Cask Noir. Whiskyschiff Luzern, of Whisky Ship Lucerne, is without doubt one of the wee festivals I attempt to not ever miss, 12 months after 12 months. Color: amber. Nostril: somewhat old-skool, nutty and with many raisins, desserts, figs, somewhat ham… All good, if not mindboggling. With water: positive. Simpler dry sherry, walnuts, orange pores and skin, gravel… Mouth (neat): a bit tough, on leaves, ginger, inexperienced peppercorns… It is fairly wild, as wild because the Lucerne lake when the wind blows (and the ships are pitching). With water: good, sweeter, however nonetheless quite gingery. Ginseng, honey and propolis – all stated to treatment all the things. End: lengthy, leafier. Feedback: excellent little Linkwood, it is simply that the yearly competition in Lucerne is even higher.
SGP:561 – 82 factors. |
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Since we’re in Switzerland… (effectively we aren’t far, truly)… By the way in which it is good that them Swiss-made whiskies are something however impartial. However again to Linkwood…
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Linkwood 9 yo 2011/2021 (56.9%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Switzerland, 1st fill bourbon barrel, #39.212, Candy and Bitter Sweet Bathe, 194 bottles) 
Color: white wine. Nostril: barley sugar and syrup, pack of small easter eggs, muesli – in spite of everything, we’re close to the Alpes – and candy vanilla (icing sugar). With water: similar. Recent lemon cake. Mouth (neat): very syrupy, creamy, on inexperienced apple liqueur and, effectively, limoncello. And extra barley syrup, plus certainly some tart younger riesling from the place there’s not a lot solar but. With water: all the things lemon drops, candies, bonbons, lotions and liqueurs; plus some inexperienced grass. End: lengthy, ultra-simple, however good. Extra inexperienced apples within the aftertaste. Feedback: maybe a tad anecdotal, but it surely positive is a fairly good very younger… maintain on, what is the title of the distillery once more?
SGP:661 – 83 factors. |
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Linkwood 10 yo 2012/2023 (46%, James Eadie, Small Batch #AW23, recharred hogshead, 1,291 bottles) 
From three hogsheads, apparently. Sure we’ve got the numbers. Color: white wine. Nostril: aren’t they grasp at this. Creamy banana liqueur, vanilla, barley syrup, apples and citrons, cassata, family-pack of marshmallows. Mouth: excellent. Lemons and apples, barley, very gentle mentholy oak, cream eggs, Haribo bears, infants and crocodiles, focaccia bread. End: amaretti chiming in, limoncello (what else) within the aftertaste. Feedback: no feedback. That is boringly effectively constructed and, given the worth, simply irresistible. I don’t need to sound like a Tiktoker, however that is higher that a whole bunch of whiskies that they promote for occasions this value. £37.50, simply saying.
SGP:651 – 85 factors. |
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Linkwood 10 yo 2013/2023 (51.1%, Dalgety, oloroso end)
Color: mild gold. Nostril: the ending appears to have labored out, as we’re discovering a big pecan pie and round 1,547,458 tons of butterscotch. Which we simply love, who would not. With water: cheesecake, carrot cake, caramel sauce, fudge, and maple syrup. Who could be towards this. Mouth (neat): shortbread, Cointreau, gentle liquorice and a few saltier one (salmiak), all that with excellent energy, mouthfeel and spine. With water: the ending feels somewhat extra, there’s extra leafiness, contact of leather-based, cherry stem tea… However there are additionally figs coming to the rescue. End: medium, a tad leathery when watered down. Higher save water. Feedback: certainly, no want so as to add any waterz at 51.1%. Please abstain from lowering it, in different phrases do not do what I did. Mea Culpa.
SGP:461 – 84 factors. |
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Linkwood 10 yo (56.8%, Dràm Mor, 1st fill bourbon end, cask # 303762, 243 bottles, 2023)
Might we not have some knackered wooden end, as they do in Cognac? I imply first energetic wooden, after which correct getting old in, effectively, maturing vessels quite than flavouring ones? Color: gold. Nostril: in fact this works. Banana bread, croissants, raisin rolls, vanilla fudge, shortbread… With water: some paraffin, some engine oil, some brake fluid… I used to be not anticipating this. Now the desserts are quickly to strike again, with extra croissants. A we or are we not French? Mouth (neat): fairly good, regardless of a bitterish piney contact that ought to go away as quickly as we add water. And why wait… With water: again to barley (B2B). End: good maltiness. Feedback: perhaps not completely earthshattering, however good drop for positive.
SGP:551 – 83 factors. |
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We could be dropping steam, however the coronary heart stays prepared…
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Linkwood 10 yo 2011/2022 (52.2%, The Whisky Trade ‘fiftieth Anniversary’, refill hogshead + bourbon barrel, 870 bottles)
I had thought people would rejoice their 50 years with some 50 years-old spirits, no? That is definitely what a did myself, my associates would have killed me, ought to I’ve poured them some younger stuff from some barely mundane distilleries… Having stated that, I’ve seen that Angus favored this one quite rather a lot. Color: white wine. Nostril: sucrose, mild honey, honeysuckle, white clover, blancmange. Very mild. With water: chilly earl gray tea. Mouth (neat): severely good, if fairly ‘normal’. It is true that there could be tens of millions of such casks resting over Hadrian’s Wall. Effectively, there are. Lemon zests, inexperienced apples, IPA. With water: good, straightforward, malty with apples on the helm. End: similar. Feedback: did I ever let you know the joke about this Chef who at all times cooks with whisky?
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
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Within the personal phrases of Mr Iggy Pop, I am somewhat bored, however we will go on as a result of that is our obligation.
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Linkwood 9 yo 2012/2022 (47%, Signatory Classic for Whic, Spirit of the Forest, dechar/rechar hogshead, cask #315423; 383 bottles)
Dechar/rechar, OMG! The bottle is gorgeous. Color: pale gold. Nostril: banana skins, fudge, croissants, grist, a number of ashes. Mouth: severely, it is excellent. I might like to find out about what’s been mendacity within the hoggie earlier than it acquired decharred/recharred. Ardbeg? In any case it’s a nice mutant Linkwood, malt whisky for X-Males, lemony and smoky. End: lengthy, creamy, lemony and form of peaty. Feedback: extra in-cask mixing that labored a deal with, a lot to our despair. IA malt.
SGP:653 – 86 factors. |
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Linkwood 11 yo 2010/2021 (56%, Hong Kong Whisky, Artwork Collection, refill sherry butt)
They’re all roughly 10 years previous, as a result of you understand what whisky salesmen used to say, ‘no ten, no deal’. Until your title begins with an ‘M’, or an ‘A’ in the event you’re on charming Islay. Color: gold. Nostril: gentle sherry, vanilla, shortbread, ripe banana, vanilla cake, vanilla cream; nougat… With water: some beeswax, but it surely’s change into shier, globally. Some pine resin. Mouth (neat): however excellent, highly effective, somewhat leafy and tea-ish. Fairly some ginger. I believe water is admittedly wanted on the palate. With water: proper, but it surely’s a kind of glorious fillers. In different phrases, there’s a lot. End: medium. Grist and popcorn. Feedback: good drop for positive.
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
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Linkwood 2010/2022 (48.9%, The Firkin Whisky Co., bourbon, virgin French oak & Madeira, cask #SC28)
What is that this sorcery? Color: gold. Nostril: very good, no denying, some Danish pastries, vanilla cream, Golden Grahams, mild meadow honey (early season), Canadian ice wine, frozen apples certainly… That is all good and nice and civilized and consensual (I suppose). Severely, very good nostril, quite honeyed. Mouth: excellent, malty, contemporary (baggage of apples) after which pleasantly natural. Some teas, verbena, rooibos, earl gray, all that with a great dollop of honey inside and round. End: quite lengthy, with some curaçao, younger calvados, extra honey, extra orange liqueur… Solely the aftertaste is somewhat sourer. Feedback: these periods are robust as a result of the bottom distillate isn’t very characterful. However why am I telling you this?
SGP:651 – 86 factors. |
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Now we have room for yet one more, however no extra then. I believe we’ll surrender whisky and get into horticulture, a minimum of then we’ll be sure to search out the roses that Michael Jackson was so keen on. On that word, and since Linkwood has been replicated since, I am not even positive that the Linkwood MJ was having fun with got here from the identical stills because the pleasant drams we’re tasting collectively as of late. Come on, one final one, whereas tipping our hats to Michael Jackson…
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Linkwood 14 yo 2008/2022 (53.7%, Alistair Walker, Rare Flyers for HNWS, PX sherry hogshead, cask #804811, 336 bottles)
So appears to be like like we’re in Taiwan once more. Color: full copper amber. Nostril: oh, ripe mirabelle plums and quince jelly, is that this even beatable? And all these golden juicy sultanas, these whiffs of beeswax, of chestnut honey… We’re definitely reminded of a distillery in Dufftown that begins with a B. I imply, its title. With water: ripe plums, ripe plums, ripe plums. A tiny metallic contact too (previous cash, previous copper wire and stuff). Mouth (neat): quite plenty of candied fruits, dates, pears, figs, additionally spices, curry, cinnamon, nutmeg… It is not that it is rather sturdy, but it surely feels fairly sturdy. Or is it me who’s feeling weak? With water: superior at first, even when some bitterish, drying herbs had been woke up too. Peppered chartreuse, not too positive in spite of everything. End: lengthy and comparable. Quite herbaceous, bitter aftertaste. Feedback: good, even excellent, however as soon as once more discount has gotten tough.
SGP:561 – 85 factors. |
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Proper, that is it then, we’ll retreat to a monastery the place all they’re going to serve us is contemporary water from the close by spring. The last word dream (as I write these traces). And so they have heavenly WiFi.
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