Fable Chapter Two - Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008

Chapter Two delves into the people of Clanyard, depicted as robust individuals as unyielding as the bedrock of their home. They were not easily fazed, save for one peculiar occurrence. This chapter features twenty releases, dating from 2008 to 2015 distillates. All are Linkwood distillates aged in ex-bourbon refill hogsheads for seven to thirteen years, bottled as single casks at cask strength, with one exception noted as 'new wood'. The limited bottlings vary from 47 to 308 bottles per release, intended for different global markets. My tasting today is likely the third release (cask 305604), distilled October 13, 2008, and aged twelve years. Two hundred and seventy-seven bottles were filled at 58.7% ABV on July 27, 2021, for Australian, UK, German, and Danish markets. I suspect this is the one, though my sample pack indicates cask number 305608 at 59.1% ABV, a detail Fable does not specify. The Australian bottler, 'the Whisky Company', shows cask 305604 in their full bottle listings online, so I'm proceeding with that assumption. A message has been dispatched to the supplier to voice my displeasure. Nose: Sweet and malt-dominant. Notes of barley sugar and honeyed toast. It's quite perfumed and woody, with hints of dried ginger and general stone fruit emerging over time, adding slight interest. It doesn't particularly appeal to me; it's substantial but also rather uninspired. Palate: The high ABV is certainly noticeable. Similar to a recent Pokeno, there's a fizzy sensation on the tongue, accompanied by a fair amount of rather sharp ethanol heat. The flavors are somewhat muted, generic white stone fruits, with echoes of barley and lightly honeyed toast as hinted at by the nose. The body is quite unremarkable, with a nutty-nougat texture and flavor developing late in its minimal evolution. Finish: Medium length. A bit grainy, with notes of baked pastry crust and some apple crispness. A raw red chili heat is present. A small addition of water introduces a slight sourness/tartness to the nose and allows a subtle peachy or melon note to appear on the palate, while also reducing the effervescence to a more acceptable level. It also adds a gentle creaminess to the finish. More presentation than substance. The artwork and narrative are excellent. The liquid itself, less so. I was initially inclined to rate this a rather low 2.25, but the drop of water revealed enough pleasant texture in the finish and tempered the sharpness enough to bring out a bit more white fruit character, prompting an upgrade to 2.5. However, at AUD$185, this is a severe criticism from my perspective. This is my first Linkwood; I suppose it fits the typical Speyside profile of being light and grassy, with subtle flavors and slightly tart white wine fruit notes. Nevertheless, it's simply dull. For such an elaborate story, one would expect more. It's suitable for blending, mixing, or cocktails, yes. But for contemplative sipping, no. No music tonight, instead, a Fable recounting the tale of the Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay. For those just joining the narrative at chapter two. ‘Once, a small settlement was situated on a sea cliff in Scotland’s remote southwest. While the four cardinal directions offered journeys elsewhere – east to the borders, north to the heartland, south to glacial lakes, and west by sea – the inhabitants remained. For the land, which should have been infertile, was surprisingly productive for farming (a closely guarded secret). Battered by rain, these were hardy people, as tough as the granite beneath them. They bore hardship without complaint and were not easily frightened, except for one strange phenomenon. On stormy nights, when the moon was obscured, eerie screams seemed to emanate from below. There, where crashing waves met the rugged bay, stood a gaping, hollow cave. The cave remained undisturbed until, one spring day, an old piper arrived with a dog. The shaggy hound was as grey as its owner’s beard. The piper was undoubtedly the finest in the land, much like his father before him. His bagpipes, though crudely made, produced a cheerful sound that even silenced the crows. No one had ever heard such joyous melodies. Thus, accompanied by his loyal dog, the piper entered the cave, playing boldly as he went. The locals waited at the entrance, listening. Hours passed, the music faded, and eventually, silence fell. Suddenly, the hound, once thick-coated, emerged from the cave howling, completely devoid of fur, shivering. Deep within the earth, the piper continued to play as the fairies shrieked, commanding him to leave. He pressed on, a chill settling upon him, towards a faint light. His music soared over the terrible cries until the piper reached the cave’s center. The piper found himself in the midst of a violent storm, yet he continued to play. Enraged at being outmatched by a mortal, the fairies departed, leaving behind a maze of tunnels to ensnare the piper. The piper was never seen again, and not a single settler could later recall his face. The cave’s entrance has long vanished, but listen closely! Stand on that cliff in the dead of night, and a faint melody of pipes can still be heard rising from the depths below.’ Fable running scores: Chapter 1 - Caol Ila 10, 2010: 2.5/5 Chapter 2 - Linkwood 12, 2010: 2.5/5