Linkwood 1988, The Whisky Jury

Nose: very refined. Dried yellow flowers, hints of hay and orange cake. Stewed orchard fruits in the background, as well as a hint of pineapple. Eucalyptus and mint, as well as some sweet spice. Subtle hints of balm and paraffin. Ferns and light whiffs of resinous oak. A bit of a diesel powered whisky, but really good.

Mouth: very aromatic again, with oily and spicy notes. A nice combination of herbal teas, pink pepper, yellow apple and floral touches. Very pleasant and rather natural. There’s a slightly sweetness to it, but also a nice acidity, entirely polished by age. Fine oak with a tiny hoppy note.

Finish: not too long, now integrating some nutty notes, more teas and a leafy (tobacco) note as well.

A true no-rush dram. Linkwood often lacks a bit of stand-out character in my opinion, so this wins entirely on balance, charming simplicity and the perfect integration of oak. It’s currently being distributed to TWJ retailers around the world and the price is certainly reasonable (around € 285 if I’m not mistaken).

Colour: white wine. Nose: another one that came from a superbly shy old refill cask, apparently, with as much 'modern technology' as there was in a 1927 Bugatti. I'm getting whiffs of rose petals, which I'll always try to find in Linkwood since Michael Jackson once wrote that roses were amongst Linkwood's main markers. I have to confess I've not always been successful in my quest, but cheers Michael-in-the-sky! Wonderful wet limestone, sourdough, green gooseberries, damp plaster,  granny smith, paraffin and crushed grapes. Traces of elderflowers and vernal grass, wild thyme, hay... That part is absolutely wonderful and can only stem from a perfect old refill cask (give me a break with your 'knackered old wood' thing). Mouth: and voilà, what was in the nose is in the palate too, these tart gooseberries and granny smith apples, this herbal side, more paraffin, something clearly sour as if it was a proper caipirinha (with almost no syrup at all), coriander, even wee gherkins, cardamom… It would tend to become a little extra-sour and bitter, having said that, but nothing excessive. Finish: wonderfully acidic and bitter, rather on peel and the tightest cider apples. A wee green tannicity in the aftertaste. Comments: in the rather tough category of the quasi-90s.
SGP:461 - 89 points.