Linkwood 12 2008 - DS Tayman 2nd Edition

Nose: Honey, vanilla, malted milk, strawberry liqueur. There's a hint of oak in the background, and the more you let it open up and pay attention to the nose, the more you notice a very rich and satisfying malty aroma. Palate: Sweet arrival, which again is all about red berries and fruit liqueurs. It's not syrupy, however, and maintains a lively nature that is light and playful. As it develops, I get milk chocolate, ripe red apples, ripe bananas, vanilla cream, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums, but all these notes suggest fresh, ripe fruit – not dried or stewed. The texture is fairly neutral but good. Finish: Medium. Apple, red berries, and a hint of white pepper. The nose on this is very fruity and sweet, as would be expected from maturation in red wine casks. However, the character isn't like some red wine-finished whiskies (cough Starward cough) that are weighed down by heavy, ponderous wine. This has an uplifted, sweet character that isn't subtle but combines excellently with the fruity, floral character of the Linkwood distillate. In fact, this is a classic Linkwood profile but with the usual tropical fruit character transformed into fruit salad with lots of red berries. Adding a dash of water lifts the nose, pushes back the fruits, and brings out delicate woody notes, and water also makes the palate almost dangerously easy to drink. When I first opened this bottle a few weeks ago, I was underwhelmed, but now that it's below the shoulder, it's getting better almost daily. I've come to really like this humble Linkwood, and the price is very fair in my opinion. It would also be a very good Speysider to share with a novice; they would be engaged rather than challenged, while you wouldn't be bored. “Good”: 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Nose: Summer berries, sweet, with hints of ash and cut wood. Palate: Berries, very sweet, like icing sugar, black pepper, wood, tannic, floral, and peach. Finish: Medium length. Strong alcohol, notes of apple pie and custard. Leaves a souring and drying sensation afterward. Limited to 323 bottles. Distilled: June 2007 Bottled: December 2019 Finished in Flam Winery wine barrels from Israel. This is very sweet, floral, and sugary. It's too heavy on the alcohol, with a souring and tannic aftertaste.

Aromas of apple pie and berries. Taste reminds me of strawberry shortcake, with a lighter body, and a peppery aftertaste. Nothing extraordinary, but really good for the price.

Aroma: Sugared lemon, baked apple pie Flavor: Smooth, sweet vanilla, woody spice Aftertaste: Lingering spice with a lengthy finish

One of the best bottles available for under $50.