2009 Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Cask Linkwood 10 Year Old Parcel No.4 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
This bottling represents a batch of seven barrels from Linkwood, all filled in 2009 and aged for more than a decade. The style here is fresh and peppery, "reminiscent of an early autumn morning", with a fruity undertone contributing a mellow elegance. Jim Murray described a slightly older SMOS bottling as "Linkwood at its fruitiest and lightest... a joyous malt perfect for the Summer evenings" (92.5 points) Expect something similar here. Good review from whiskyfun.com below. 48% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Angel's share: 27.2%
Other reviews... Linkwood is a one of those 'background' names in Scotch Whisky that just seems to have been eternally there ever since I got properly into whisky. And that is where it has always remained: in the background. Quiet, humble, dependable, constant, occasionally comforting, but rarely brilliant, thrilling, stand out or exciting. I'm sorry if I am enraging the Knights of Linkwood, or Linkwood Coveters Anonymous or whatever these clubs are called, but it's very much a personal impression I've gathered over the years. Now, this doesn't mean I'm not always happy to try a Linkwood when one crosses my path, it's just that they exist rather in the 'Glen Safe' territory for me.... Selected from seven casks apparently. Colour: white wine. Nose: …and indeed, we have, in many ways, the epitome of 'modern malt whisky'. Lightly sweet vanilla custard, plain malt, tinned fruits in syrups (pineapple etc), tart green apples, lemon rind and dry breakfast cereals. Easy, simple and extremely pleasant. Mouth: simplicity and easiness again, which I suppose is generally the point with a series like this. The kind of sweet, fresh, green fruity malt you can easily quaff from a tumbler absentmindedly while watching Indiana Jones. Custard again, baked apple, lemon barley water. Finish: medium, lemony, sweet, gooseberry, breakfast cereals again. Comments: It's extremely easy and simple and fresh malt whisky. If someone said: "bring unto me the epitome of simplistic modern Speyside malt whisky" and you didn't walk in with this on a tray you'd be fired. I suspect that's probably exactly what Sukhinder said to Oliver. 82 points - Angus, whiskyfun.com
London-based Elixir Distillers is an independent bottler, owned by a prominent UK retailer. Better known as the creative force behind much praised labels like ‘Elements of Islay’ & ‘Port Askaig’, they debuted with “The Single Malts of Scotland” collection back in 2005. As the name suggests, this range focusses on vintage single malts from many distilleries at a variety of ages, selected by head blender and business manager, Oliver Chilton. There are two tiers: The Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks are bottled in small batches of four to seven casks at a consistent 48% with no chill-filtration. Many have received awards and critical acclaim. The second tier is composed of cask strength and single cask bottlings, typically represented by much older age statements. Rarely seen in Australia, this shipment is a very small parcel, with some items limited to just three bottles.