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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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December 13, 2016 |
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The Pre-Christmas Duos
Young and old Linkwood |
So yeah, Linkwood, which can be very good. We’ll first have a very strange experiment from Ukraine, and then an older regular one by specialists Gordon & MacPhail. |
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Linkwood 1997/2016 (46%, Scyfion, Ukraine, Troyanda Zakarpattya cask finish, 314 bottles)  Even in my wildest dreams, I had never dared hoping that I would be able to try a Troyanda Zakarpattya cask finish one day ;-). In fact it’s a white desert wine from the Carpathians, said to be pretty good. In my experience and in general, desert wines work better ‘on’ whisky, unless there were too many litres left in the casks (which isn’t quite legal, but you know, why would some Scots waste them…) Colour: deep gold. Nose: first, the sweet wine doesn’t get in the way, and second, the malt is/was rather natural, well balanced, and seemingly ready to welcome the wine. So fruit jams and flowers abound, but the whole isn’t extravagant. It reminds me of the best Muscats de Beaume de Venise. Mouth: ah yes, very good, well done. Roasted raisins, honey cake, oriental pastries, malt, baked apples, roasted almonds and peanuts, pecan pie… All is good and very well balanced. Finish: medium, rather fresh, and never too raisiny. Comments: I suppose our friends have been monitoring the cask very closely, these finishes can soon go over the top (see many current PX finishes elsewhere). Not the case at all here, again, well done Ukraine (I feel like I’m at the Eurovision song contest ;-)). SGP:551 - 86 points. |
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Linkwood 1972/2013 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, Speyside Collection, cask #14796, 277 bottles)  This baby from a first fill sherry hogshead. The press release is talking about Evel Knievel, but I doubt he’s been involved with this little whisky in any way. Better like this. This bottling is currently being kind of relaunched within a new set of six old whiskies that’s pretty appealing (Glenlivet ’48, Strathisla ’53, Mortlach ’54…) As for the 1972 vintage, you may know what I think. Colour: gold. Nose: very subtle and elegant, with deep floral tones, roses, irises, some sandalwood, perhaps distant whiffs of church incense, certainly some soft honey (acacia, also acacia flowers), honeysuckle… I know some ladies may consider this being sexist, but apologies, I think this is a rather feminine nose. And a beautiful one at that. Mouth: a few bits and pieces of pencil shavings at first, then some kind of cake filled with stewed red apples, raisins, and fresh mint leaves. All that is covered with the same honey as in the nose. A very soft malt, extremely approachable and drinkable. The strength is perfect given the style. Finish: medium, a wee bit spicier. Anis biscuits and amaretti. Comments: an epitome of elegance, softness and easiness in malt whisky. SGP:541 - 88 points. |
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