Another showstopper from a Speyside treasure, this 14-year-old single cask from Linkwood will make a rabid fan of anyone lucky enough to get their hands on it. In fact, you’ll soon be on the lookout for anything you can get your hands on from them – after all, as a lynchpin in the Diageo blending stable, Linkwood is seldom seen on the market under its own name, so collectors typically jump at the chance to acquire these independent bottlings. Our previous Linkwood bottling from SMoS was a gem, but this one is on another level. This is pure, elegant, and utterly mesmerizing Linkwood character in every way. Light gold in the glass and very understated at first. Grass, apple, and pear, all with a fine dried quality to them, lead the nose, with super-fine, Chablis-like minerality, salt spray, and petrol around the edges. The first sip is viscous and weighty across the mid-palate, but oh so refined as it fans out in tightly wound flavors of nutty, salty tones reminiscent of sherry flor, petrol, and yeasty bread. Absolutely no need for water here – after a short time, the aromas segue to blond tobacco, orange marmalade, lemon preserves, and pastry crust, all with a bright saline undertone. The palate likewise takes a sharp turn, with that initial viscosity settling out and now taking on a shimmering, vibrant, incredibly precise texture and weight, with secondary flavors of lemon oil, oyster shell, and dried mango. Just a beautifully classic, unpeated Speysider that hits every note clear as a bell.
96 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Mar 2025)
Top Quality Store
