Linkwood is a distillery that is unknown to the public at large, but fairly well-known in the Scotch community. Owned by Diageo (and thus consigned to being blend fodder for Johnny Walker and such), there are myriad fantastic varieties from independent bottlers, almost all of which are known for delicate but persistent fresh grass or hay notes and rich orchard fruit.
Meanwhile, Blackadder has become my favorite independent bottler, as any long-time reader will known. They are highly selective and only release a small selection each year, but each bottle is basically a guaranteed home run. The combination of Linkwood and Blackadder - combined with a discount I received - made this irresistible.
All I know is that it's 12 years old, has a PX finish of indeterminate length, and is bottled (completely unfiltered) at 59.2% ABV. Let's investigate:
Nose: Fresh and robust, definitely grassy, with definite overtones of orchard fruit (apple, pear). Some moderate alcohol prickle, unsurprising at 59.2%. Citrus, too: oranges and maybe grapefruit. Over time, vanilla and oak waft out of the glass. Pretty rich, and quintessential Speyside.
The finish in the PX cask must have been pretty brief, because are few-to-none of the usual "heavy sherry finish" flavors here (like raisins or leather or almonds, etc) - most of the scents I'm getting are strongly ex-bourbon.
With a few drops of water, sherry elements begin to emerge a bit - strawberry jam, good brandy, hints of a dry nutty quality, and some prunes.
Mouthfeel: Rich and silky, surprisingly viscous actually. Good mouthfeel.
Palate: Oooh, nice - the grassy orchard notes are here, but brightened and balanced out by some baking spices and wood tannins (peppery). The baking spices are quite cinnamon-forward with hints of allspice and clove. There is a strong underlying sweetness of apples, fresh-cut grass, pear, and orange.
With water, as on the nose, sherry comes out to play: apples are mixed with prunes, pears with plums, the grassiness is tempered by a dry leathery nutty quality. Quite sweet and yet nicely balanced. Endlessly moreish and quaffable.
Finish: A bright finish of oak, pepper, apple, gum syrup (thickened simple syrup), and even hints of bubble gum.
Verdict: Another home run for Blackadder. This is a great dram, and a nice example of "how to do a sherry finish." The core Linkwood spirit is present and not at all overwhelmed by delicate sherry flavors which mostly emerge only if you add some water. The end result is a full-flavored yet balanced spirit that is grassy, fruity, yet has spice and dry notes to prevent it from being *too* sweet.
Lovely stuff. A must for any fans of Linkwood.
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