Linkwood-Glenlivet 23 Year Small Batch (Cadenhead's)

This was a complimentary sample from the last stop on our trip through Scotland. A friend gave it to me. This was a bottle that we both purchased after seeing a great review from a very respected person on this platform. I think my friend found this bottle in the Netherlands and we spent about $160 for it. Linkwood is a rather unknown distillery and this was a 23 year old bottle from a private bottler, Cadenhead. This was bottled at full proof of 55.3% and is not chill filtered with no added color. It’s a classic gold color in the tasting glass and appears viscous with tiny droplets forming when you give it a swirl. The nose began with light florals, vanilla and orchard fruits. I ultimately gave this one close to an hour to breathe and a little water to encourage it to open up more. Once I added some H2O I was rewarded with a lovely raspberry note, grapes, honey and some fresh oak. The aromas coming from the glass were the best part of this dram. The palate was instantly way too hot to really enjoy- even after an hour. The ABV really prevented this spirit from relaxing much at all. Again, with water, it became a bit sweeter but the heat remained and it was overly woody and harsh. Water didn’t tame this wild thing one bit and I wasn’t about to drown it to make that happen. The finish was medium and spicy while drying. The heat mellowed a bit and became manageable and after adding water it became much fruitier. It took water to save the finish for me. Also, I did thoroughly enjoy the dry glass aromas after finishing the entire sample- I got tons of raspberry notes and that took me back to how much I enjoyed the initial nosing. It shouldn’t have taken an hour to discover, nor should it have needed water at 55%. Overall, to say I had high hopes for this bottle is an understatement. I’m conflicted when it comes to a score- I want to penalize it for the abrasive mouthfeel and excessive heat, but I really loved the nose and dry glass finish. The nose was 5 stars, but the palate and finish are 2.5-2.75 stars for me. I’m going to compromise and settle on 3.75. I’ve had a few whiskies that were fantastic on the nose and fell apart everywhere else and I still propped them up with higher than average scores, so I think I’ll do the same here. This bottle was pretty limited so I don’t have to recommend buying it because it’ll be so hard to find at this point- I do believe Cadenhead are releasing more Linkwood on a yearly basis, though, so you may be able to find the 24 year old version now. My advice there is proceed with caution if you do- and bring water. Cheers, my friends.

A bonus sample from the SDT, which I provided for the group. A 23-year Linkwood from independent bottlers Cadenhead, made from 2 bourbon hogsheads yielding 492 bottles. Distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2016, this Speyside single malt is cask strength at 55.3% ABV, non chill filtered and natural color, presenting a shimmering gold hue. The aroma is quite reserved initially, requiring significant effort and careful exploration. Herbal and minty notes are prominent at first. Some fruit emerges, but it's subtle, like apples, green grapes, bananas, and honeydew. A powerful raspberry flavor appears, though it's not quite authentic raspberry; more akin to blue raspberry candy. It's unusual and unexpected but undeniably present. Vanilla, toffee, bubblegum, with floral and grassy undertones are also detected. Adding enough water to create a light mist brought out more toffee and mint. A malty note, previously absent, surfaced along with some tangerines. Further dilution, beyond a mist into a dense London fog, revealed lime, soap, more tangerine, licorice, green oak, and an aromatic quality. There's a lot to analyze, but regrettably, nothing truly impressed me, save for the raspberry, and even that was a puzzled sort of impression. The taste was even more restrained than the aroma. Quite fiery if approached without awareness of its potency, but it's a weak jumble of flavors lacking unity. Grassy with a touch of toffee and apples. Little else is present neat. Water unlocks lime, oak, honey, green tea, ginger, and malty notes. A medium to full-bodied texture that feels both oily and not simultaneously. Makes the mouth water. The conclusion is medium in length, featuring lime, mint, and grassy notes. I must admit, my expectations were exceptionally high following a friend's declaration that this was among the best they had ever experienced. I found it for $160 and purchased it immediately. What a disappointment given the buzz, the cost, and the age. A score of 3.25, perhaps a 3.5 due to that peculiar blue raspberry note on the nose. My apologies to my friend, it simply did not resonate with me. Cheers

On a dull Friday evening, with everything quiet. Tasting a sample from a while back (two years ago), received as a bonus from individuals involved with the SDT group. Still working through the backlog... An initial, very brief whiff revealed a trace of coffee grains, which quickly vanished. The aroma is floral and fruity, light with a slight alcohol vapor that tickles the nostrils. Notes of honeysuckle, vanilla, Heath bar (toffee and milk chocolate), apples, and white grapes are detected. As it develops, hints of dried grass/straw, dry oatmeal with honey, honeydew, and a touch of oak char appear. A very complex and full aroma. A spicy taste (attributable to the high proof/55.3% ABV), which is surprisingly creamy by contrast. Features a base of orchard fruits like apples and/or pears, sweet vanilla, caramel, and ground cinnamon. Lingering notes of char and oak remain on the palate, accompanied by a hint of mint. Adding a good amount of water enhances the whisky. Vanilla flavors become more prominent, along with a significant sweetness akin to barley sugar. Notes of Whoppers candy and green tea emerge. The aroma is the highlight of this spirit. Full, intricate, and inviting. The palate matches the aroma's potential, seeming on the verge of fully opening up but holding back. Water acts as a facilitator, unlocking more flavors. However, the inherent flavor within the spirit limits the extent of this revelation. In simpler terms, the overall flavor capacity is finite. I anticipated more complexity from a 23-year-matured spirit, desiring greater depth, similar to the aroma. Nevertheless, it's a good, enjoyable dram overall. Fortunate to have sampled this elusive scotch. Thanks again to those who provided it. [87/100][Tasted: 10/16/20]

I bought this bottle at the Cadenhead shop in Edinburgh a year and a half ago, but never opened it until tonight. I had no clue what I was doing truthfully, and purchased it on the strong prompting from the sales clerk. A sucker move? Perhaps. But in hindsight, here's my review: OMG SWEET MOTHER OF THE MOST HIGH GOD! This is my 349th review, and I have never begged everyone to get their hands on a whisky. EVER. Until today. Which unfortunately sucks because barely 500 bottles of this dram were ever bottled. But if you can, you absolutely must. This is, arguably, the greatest Speyside whisky I have ever tasted. Flawless is an understatement. And in its simplicity, it truly is sophisticated and complete. The nose is humble yet regal, with notes of honey, hay and a floral blossom that reminds me of walking through Kensington Gardens two summers ago. I was wowed, and still it paled to the palate. This whisky envelops your mouth with notes of brown sugar, all-spice, honey and carnations, with an oily mouthful and a finish that last ad eternum.

The nose presents strawberries, light oranges, roses, heather, powdered sugar, and white grapes. It's quite subtle, perhaps due to its age. Taken neat, the palate is fiery and burns without a bit of water. Adding a few drops revealed raspberries, lime zest, vegetal notes, caramel, and brown sugar. For me, the finish is medium to long, with cream, white chocolates, butter, and then a drying sensation. It's complex, but feels somewhat unfocused. I'm contemplating whether it harmonizes well; it might simply be outside my preferences. Initially, it resembles a Japanese whisky on the nose. The palate is unlike anything I've encountered, bordering on chaotic. The finish leaves a heavy coating and is far from delicate. A truly unique experience that's challenging to articulate, but I'm trying. The theme for this dram is exceptional. It's titled “Happiness is a Warm Gun” by The Beatles, aptly capturing its multifaceted nature. Many thanks for obtaining this for us. I'm assigning it a score of 3.75.

This was included in a bonus selection from a friend in our final round 7 competition. I know they put in significant effort to get this bottle, spending a lot of time searching online. The spirit presents as very elegant and refined, yet unpretentious. It has notes of strawberries and cream on the nose, followed by light milk chocolate and a hint of fruit on the palate. It has aged wonderfully; I would have anticipated more oak influence, but it maintains its fruity character. Well executed. My thanks to that friend.