Linkwood 11 (The Barrel Thief Single Cask)

Rating: 18/23 I sampled this at a bar from their happy hour selection. They used to offer Eagle Rare and Bladnoch 15 at good prices, but those have become too expensive. Now they feature this and Maker's Mark Cask Strength. I'm somewhat surprised they don't offer something lower in proof. But I'm getting off track. This is very nicely balanced and quite decadent! It has good complexity and richness. It doesn't taste particularly young or old, just very well-aged. There's some clean alcohol presence, which is unsurprising considering the proof. While I'd prefer it without the alcohol flavor, it's a pleasant alcohol note. The most prominent characteristic for me is the buckwheat nuttiness combined with toasted grain and dry grass. I also detect notes of packed, sliced bread. Additionally, there are sweet, nectary, honeyed, and fruity flavors, leaning towards tangerine, apple, and slightly tropical notes. The wood influence is present but not dominant. They did an excellent job aging this. Everything about this is very pleasant and exquisitely crafted. It's just slightly muddled, and no single note particularly stands out. It's a fine example of a quality scotch that simply needs a bit more of a standout element to be considered excellent. It's easily a 17 and could be a 19, but I'm settling on an 18.