Scotland, Speyside: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making,
production and tasting notes
Search this site
Linkwood
Description of the whisky
The distillery
Linkwood Distillery
Elgin
Morayshire
IV30 3RD
+44 1343 553 800
Owner: United Distillers & Vintners (Diageo)
Creation date1821
photos
According to old excise document, Peter Brown began distilling
whisky at Linkwood in 1824. After his death, his son, William Brown
ran the distillery for another 30 years, and gave the distillery
a solid reputation.
Linkwood is tooled up since the very beginning with large capacity
stills.
Completely refurbished in 1872, it
entered in the Stock Exchange quotation in 1898, when the family Brown created
the Linkwood-Glenlivet company.
Innes Cameron managed the distillery from 1902 up to his death
in 1932. The distillery has been taken over in 1936 by the D.C.L.
(Distillers Company Ltd.), and refurbished again in 1962. Like
many other distilleries, it was closed during World War II.
When it opened again, it was ran by Roderick Mackenzie for 18 years.
Mackenzie was very afraid that the quality of the whisky could
be altered by any change in the distillery, so he decided nothing
could be altered at Linkwood, even the spin webs must stay in place.
Enlarged in1971, Linkwood tripled its production capacity. Despite
all those alterations, the Linkwood distillery has always kept
its traditional character.
The distillery was closed from 1985 up to 1990.
Only 1 or 2% of the production is marketed as single malt, the
remaining being used in the blends of the UDV group, White Horse,
Haig, Bells and Dimple amongst others..
List of the bottles
Description of the distillery
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
12 years |
Alcohol percentage |
43% |
Bottler |
Official |
  |
|
I
bought this bottle following the advice of a shop assistant
in the Gordon & MacPhail grocery in Elgin, and I really never
regretted it. The indicated price is the price in Scotland, so
I imagine it is rather easy to find it cheaper abroad. It is a
very good whisky, well balanced, from the Northern part of the
Speyside area, just near Elgin. Very pleasant to drink, it is a
bottle I recommend to each whisky lover.
A second tasting revealed a rather discrete nose, with some ripe fruits (peer) hints and a light malt touch. The taste is relatively discrete too. No aggression. A taste of (too) ripe fruit, slightly malted. A pleasant finish, accentuating the malt rather than the fruit. A very good bottle, but with a certain lack at complexity and surprise.
The pleasnt nose is rather fruity with slightly acid hints which give it a kind of freshness behind its malty notes. In the mouth, the malt dominates with some notes of citrus fruit mixed with honey drop. A quite pleasant finish, with some honeyish but still discrete touches.
The nose is pleasantly fruity and reveals some spicy fragrances. Citrus fruit and hits of smoke. Orange skin. In the palate, a nice mix of malty and fruity notes with some hints of sweet citrus fruit (ripe orange). A touch of nut on the background. The finish is quite long, first smooth and marked by nutty bitterness, and develops rather quick on alcohol whiffs before getting smoother again after a while. Nice bottle, without being an exceptional one...
A second tasting revealed a rather discrete nose, with some ripe fruits (peer) hints and a light malt touch. The taste is relatively discrete too. No aggression. A taste of (too) ripe fruit, slightly malted. A pleasant finish, accentuating the malt rather than the fruit. A very good bottle, but with a certain lack at complexity and surprise.
The pleasnt nose is rather fruity with slightly acid hints which give it a kind of freshness behind its malty notes. In the mouth, the malt dominates with some notes of citrus fruit mixed with honey drop. A quite pleasant finish, with some honeyish but still discrete touches.
The nose is pleasantly fruity and reveals some spicy fragrances. Citrus fruit and hits of smoke. Orange skin. In the palate, a nice mix of malty and fruity notes with some hints of sweet citrus fruit (ripe orange). A touch of nut on the background. The finish is quite long, first smooth and marked by nutty bitterness, and develops rather quick on alcohol whiffs before getting smoother again after a while. Nice bottle, without being an exceptional one...
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
26 years |
Alcohol percentage |
56.1% |
Bottler |
Official |
|
|
A superb nose, rather complex
marked by spices The attack in the mouth is first dry and bitter before developing on citrus notes and then malty
and woody hints. Alcohol is quite present in the mouth. The finish is long and surprisingly smooth and contrasts
with the impression in the palate.
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
30 years |
Alcohol percentage |
54.9% |
Bottler |
Official |
|
|
A very impressive nose marked
by hints of refined wood and nuts. Touches of fruit (plum) and spices (clove). Nice complexity. The first impression
in the palate is a kind of bitter dryness (fine wood, nut) developing quickly on very beautiful acid notes to finish
on a fruity and waxy palette. Remarkable evolution in the mouth. A real firework, a very bright tastes palette.
The finish is warm and very long, and all the refinements of the mouths are present for long minutes.
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
15 years |
Alcohol percentage |
43% |
Bottler |
Signatory |
|
|
The colour is old
gold with amber glints. The nose reveals intense coconut hints and develops on malted
barley and ripe fruits.
The palate recognizes the fineness of Linkwood, with ripe apple hints.
The long finish is marked by toffee, citrus fruit (lemon) and malted barley.
The palate recognizes the fineness of Linkwood, with ripe apple hints.
The long finish is marked by toffee, citrus fruit (lemon) and malted barley.
The
first nosing gives immediately the pitch. A rich malt, complex
with honey hints and some slightly acid touches. The mouth confirms
this first impression. Slight peppery and spicy hints achieve the
whole. A long and pleasant finish prolongs a real pleasure. Excellent
bottling in an excellent collection.
The second tasting just confirmed the first one.
The nose is relatively discrete but rich and complex. Some slight marine hints, a very discrete touch of peat on a background of peppery and spicy notes and a touch of citrus fruit. The palate is dry, first rather deceiving compared to the nose, but is is however quite complex. It is quite marked by alcohol too, with a nice woody sensation and some fruity hints (apple?) at the end. The finish is pleasantly complex, sweet at bitter at the time.
Nice first nose with pleasant floral and fruity hints. Quite nice fruits, somewhere between fruit macerated in sweet liqueur and not completely ripe fruit. Between acid freshness of green apple and the sweetish impression of pears on syrup. Freshness seems do dominate slightly.
The first contact in the mouth is quite deceiving. Where are the nice promises of the nose? The only remaining is that impression of too sweet alcohol. Not so much character, no complexity. Quite a monotone taste, with a touch of walnut, drawn in the surrounding sugar. Cruel deception.
The finish is made from the same wood. Not very long nor very spectacular. A memory of sugar in the throat.
The second tasting just confirmed the first one.
The nose is relatively discrete but rich and complex. Some slight marine hints, a very discrete touch of peat on a background of peppery and spicy notes and a touch of citrus fruit. The palate is dry, first rather deceiving compared to the nose, but is is however quite complex. It is quite marked by alcohol too, with a nice woody sensation and some fruity hints (apple?) at the end. The finish is pleasantly complex, sweet at bitter at the time.
Nice first nose with pleasant floral and fruity hints. Quite nice fruits, somewhere between fruit macerated in sweet liqueur and not completely ripe fruit. Between acid freshness of green apple and the sweetish impression of pears on syrup. Freshness seems do dominate slightly.
The first contact in the mouth is quite deceiving. Where are the nice promises of the nose? The only remaining is that impression of too sweet alcohol. Not so much character, no complexity. Quite a monotone taste, with a touch of walnut, drawn in the surrounding sugar. Cruel deception.
The finish is made from the same wood. Not very long nor very spectacular. A memory of sugar in the throat.
The nose is first discrete, but reveals soon all the complexity
between citrus fruits and peppery hints of this exceptional whisky. The
alcohol degree somewhere between cask strength and traditional
is rather pleasant in the mouth. From slightly acid notes (citrus
fruits) up to peppery and spicy hints. A very long finish, and
the pleasure is complete. Another excellent bottle in another excellent
collection. I really recommend this bottling.
The second tasting partially confirmed the first one. However the dominant character of the acidity seems to much marked, that's why this bottle got a lower rating.
During the third tasting, this acidity was still present in the palate, but probably that tastes develops. This slight acidity did not hinder me at all this time, and the quotation is the same as the first time again.
Citrus fruits (tangerine) and spices characterize the nose. The palate experiences a pleasant impression of pepper whit a slightly acid touch and a very light medicinal hint on the background. The finish is lingering and powerful.
The second tasting partially confirmed the first one. However the dominant character of the acidity seems to much marked, that's why this bottle got a lower rating.
During the third tasting, this acidity was still present in the palate, but probably that tastes develops. This slight acidity did not hinder me at all this time, and the quotation is the same as the first time again.
Citrus fruits (tangerine) and spices characterize the nose. The palate experiences a pleasant impression of pepper whit a slightly acid touch and a very light medicinal hint on the background. The finish is lingering and powerful.
What a nice nose! An extremely pleasant sherry nose with some discrete fruity notes behind this stream of sherry.
The palate is spectacular too, mainly dominated by sherry but with quite a nice complexity too, allying a subtle bitterness with fruit touches.
The finish is lingering and war. First quite bitter and then sherry memories follow quickly before coming back on unripe walnut hints.
An excellent bottle I can recommend to all sherry fans.
The palate is spectacular too, mainly dominated by sherry but with quite a nice complexity too, allying a subtle bitterness with fruit touches.
The finish is lingering and war. First quite bitter and then sherry memories follow quickly before coming back on unripe walnut hints.
An excellent bottle I can recommend to all sherry fans.
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
17 ans |
Alcohol percentage |
54,1% |
Bottler |
Bladnoch |
|
|
A nice fruity nose with slightly woody hints and touches of plum spirit. Nice complexity. Marshmallow.
The very first mouth is rather bitter and develops quickly on fruity notes (plum again) with a very light touch of wood.
Nice finish, prolonging perfectly the mouth impressions.
The very first mouth is rather bitter and develops quickly on fruity notes (plum again) with a very light touch of wood.
Nice finish, prolonging perfectly the mouth impressions.
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
11 years |
Alcohol percentage |
46% |
Bottler |
Bresser & Timmer/The Nectar |
|
|
Linkwood
|
|
Alcohol percentage |
43% |
Bottler |
Jean Boyer |
The nose is first rather discrete,
but after a while, it begins to reveal amazing but quite pleasant notes of marzipan and plasticine. In the palate,
a malty sweetness contrasts with some slightly acid hints and a touch of bitterness. Just enough to keep this whisky
from monotony, but not enough to make it a complex malt. The finish remains sweet, still on the malt and the whole
is quite a pleasant apéritif.
Linkwood
|
|
Alcohol percentage |
43% |
Bottler |
Jean Boyer |
Nice floral nose with some honeyish notes. This nose announces quite a nice complexity, with those malty notes which are a smart enhancement to the heather notes detected earlier.
The mouth is more complex than the nose was, with this nice slightly acid notes titillating the papilla's. Very pleasant freshness mixed with a touch of bitterness.
The finish is lingering and shared between freshness and a slight cashew nut bitterness.
The mouth is more complex than the nose was, with this nice slightly acid notes titillating the papilla's. Very pleasant freshness mixed with a touch of bitterness.
The finish is lingering and shared between freshness and a slight cashew nut bitterness.
Linkwood 10 years
|
|
Bottler |
Dewar Rattray |
Cask(s) |
Bourbon |
Alcohol percentage |
57.7% |
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
18 years |
Alcohol percentage |
46% |
Bottler |
Van Wees |
|
|
A rich and pleasant nose with nice notes of sherry, some plum jam, liquorice and marshmallow and finally a very light woody impression. A really promising nose.
The first attack in the mouth is pleasant too, starting on bitter notes developing quickly on an interesting acidity. Nice complexity, even if there is no fragrance explosion here. The contrast between the tastes is rather modest.
The finish is lingering and offers amazingly more variety in the tastes than the palate die.
An excellent bottle anyway.
The first attack in the mouth is pleasant too, starting on bitter notes developing quickly on an interesting acidity. Nice complexity, even if there is no fragrance explosion here. The contrast between the tastes is rather modest.
The finish is lingering and offers amazingly more variety in the tastes than the palate die.
An excellent bottle anyway.
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
19 years |
Alcohol percentage |
46% |
Bottler |
Van Wees |
|
|
The first nose is rather fruity and some yeast hints which first hide the pleasant fruit character. Fortunately this hints disappear quite quickly to let fruit give all its potential. Ripe apple and mint. Smoothness and freshness.
In the palate, a fruity impression but obviously less present than it was during nosing. A light veil of smoke seams to hinder the fruity freshness.
Finish is of medium length and prolongs the mouth.
In the palate, a fruity impression but obviously less present than it was during nosing. A light veil of smoke seams to hinder the fruity freshness.
Finish is of medium length and prolongs the mouth.
Linkwood
|
|
Alcohol percentage |
53,1% |
Bottler |
Gordon & MacPhail |
|
|
Nice nose with slightly bitter smooth notes, walnut, ginger bread and some fruity hints on the background (plum jam and ripe apples).
In the palate, an excellent impression. Nice complexity with this mix of acid and fruity notes.
The finish is more like the nose was, and is long and warm.
In the palate, an excellent impression. Nice complexity with this mix of acid and fruity notes.
The finish is more like the nose was, and is long and warm.
Linkwood
|
|
Age |
20 years |
Bottler |
Malts of Scotland |
Cask |
Bourbon hogshead |
|
|
Speyside
The Speyside area is situated at the North of the Cairngorm mountain and goes to the Moray firth. It is delimited
by two rivers: the Findhorn at the West side and the Deveron on the East side.
The area is named after the river Spey. Most of the distilleries take their water in one of its affluents; the Fiddich, the
Livet or the Avon.
About sixty distilleries from Speyside are described on this site.
Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information
about the Speyside area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please
click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow
| Last update:
Sunday, 07-Mar-2010 10:12:13 CET
Tue 16 03 2010, 00:23 - 95 visiteurs au cours de la dernière heure et 4 visiteurs sur le site en ce moment. Copyright:Jean-Marie Putz (2003-2007) |
Whisky is an alcoholic drink. Let's prefer quality to quantity as the abuse of alcohol beverages can damage the health. Consuming alcoholic drinks during pregnancy, even in small quantities, can seriously affect the health of the child. Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
-
the whisky
-
the distilleries
- About distilleries
- Pictures
- The owners
- The independant bottlers
- Acorn
- Adelphi
- Alc-hem-ist
- Berry Bros & Rudd
- Bresser & Timmer / The Nectar
- Cadenhead's
- Dewar Rattray
- Douglas Laing
- Duncan Taylor
- Gordon & MacPhail
- Hart Brothers
- Ian McLeod
- Jack Wieber
- Jean Boyer
- James MacArthur
- John McDougall
- MacKillop/MacKullick
- Malts of Scotland
- Murray McDavid
- Scott's Selection
- Signatory
- SMWS
- Taste Still
- Van Wees
- The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
- Wemyss
- The Whisky Exchange
- Whisky Import Nederland
- Wilson & Morgan
- Timeline
-
the areas
- Map of Scotland
- The production areas
-
Distilleries by area
-
Grain whisky
-
Out of Scotland
-
Belgium
-
France
-
-
the bottles
-
Ranking:
- Your own tasting notes
-
Tasted samples
-
Collections
-
-
this site...
- Home
- Blog
- Links
- How was this site born?
-
Newsletters
- Guestbook
- Advertisements
- T-shirts and so...
- Technology
- Books
-
Survey
-
forum
-
contacts
Stumble It!
-
Distilleries
- Aberfeldy
- Central Highlands
- Aberlour
- Speyside
- Allt-a-Bhainne
- Speyside
- An Cnoc
- Speyside
- Ardbeg
- Islay
- Ardmore
- Speyside
- Arran
- Isle of Arran
- Auchentoshan
- Lowlands
- Auchroisk
- Speyside
- Aultmore
- Speyside
- Balblair
- Northern Highlands
- Balmenach
- Speyside
- The Balvenie
- Speyside
- Banff
- Speyside
- Ben Nevis
- Western Highlands
- Benriach
- Speyside
- Benrinnes
- Speyside
- Benromach
- Speyside
- Bladnoch
- Lowlands
- Blair Athol
- Central Highlands
- Bowmore
- Islay
- Braeval
- Speyside
- Braes of Glenlivet
- Speyside
- Brechin
- Eastern Highlands
- Brora
- Northern Highlands
- Bruichladdich
- Islay
- Bunnahabhain
- Islay
- Cameronbridge
- Single Grain
- Caol Ila
- Islay
- Caperdonich
- Speyside
- Cardhu (Cardow)
- Speyside
- Carsebridge
- Single Grain
- Clynelish
- Northern Highlands
- Coleburn
- Speyside
- Convalmore
- Speyside
- Cragganmore
- Speyside
- Craigellachie
- Speyside
- Dailuaine
- Speyside
- Dallas Dhu
- Speyside
- Dalmore
- Northern Highlands
- Dalwhinnie
- Central Highlands
- Deanston
- Central Highlands
- Dufftown
- Speyside
- Dumbarton
- Single Grain
- Edradour
- Central Highlands
- Fettercairn
- Eastern Highlands
- Finlaggan
- Islay
- Girvan
- Single Grain
- Glen Albyn
- Speyside
- Glenallachie
- Speyside
- Glenburgie
- Speyside
- Glencadam
- Eastern Highlands
- Glencraig
- Speyside
- Glen Deveron
- Speyside
- Glendronach
- Speyside
- Glendullan
- Speyside
- Glen Elgin
- Speyside
- Glenesk
- Eastern Highlands
- Glenfarclas
- Speyside
- Glenfiddich
- Speyside
- Glen Garioch
- Eastern Highlands
- Glenglassaugh
- Speyside
- Glengoyne
- Western Highlands
- Glen Grant
- Speyside
- Glengyle
- Campbeltown
- Glen Keith
- Speyside
- Glenkinchie
- Lowlands
- Glenlivet
- Speyside
- Glenlochy
- Western Highlands
- Glenlossie
- Speyside
- Glen Mhor
- Speyside
- Glenmorangie
- Northern Highlands
- Glen Moray
- Speyside
- Glen Ord
- Northern Highlands
- Glenrothes
- Speyside
- Glen Scotia
- Campbeltown
- Glen Spey
- Speyside
- Glentauchers
- Speyside
- Glenturret
- Central Highlands
- Glenugie
- Eastern Highlands
- Glenury Royal
- Eastern Highlands
- Highland Park
- Orkney
- Imperial
- Speyside
- Inchgower
- Speyside
- Invergordon
- Single Grain
- Inverleven
- Lowlands
- Isle of Jura
- Isle of Jura
- Kilchoman
- Islay
- Knockando
- Speyside
- Ladyburn
- Lowlands
- Lagavulin
- Islay
- Laphroaig
- Islay
- Ledaig
- Isle of Mull
- Linkwood
- Speyside
- Linlithgow
- Lowlands
- Littlemill
- Lowlands
- Loch Lomond
- Western Highlands
- Lochside
- Eastern Highlands
- Longmorn
- Speyside
- Macallan
- Speyside
- Macduff
- Speyside
- Mannochmore
- Speyside
- Millburn
- Speyside
- Miltonduff
- Speyside
- Mortlach
- Speyside
- Mosstowie
- Speyside
- North British
- Single Grain
- North of Scotland
- Single Grain
- North Port
- Eastern Highlands
- Oban
- Western Highlands
- Old Fettercairn
- Eastern Highlands
- Old Pulteney
- Northern Highlands
- Pittyvaich
- Speyside
- Port Dundas
- Single Grain
- Port Ellen
- Islay
- Pulteney
- Northern Highlands
- Rosebank
- Lowlands
- Royal Brackla
- Speyside
- Royal Lochnagar
- Eastern Highlands
- Scapa
- Orkney
- Speyburn
- Speyside
- Speyside
- Speyside
- Springbank
- Campbeltown
- St Magdalene
- Lowlands
- Strathclyde
- Single Grain
- Strathisla
- Speyside
- Strathmill
- Speyside
- Talisker
- Isle of Skye
- Tamdhu
- Speyside
- Tamnavulin
- Speyside
- Teaninich
- Northern Highlands
- Tobermory
- Isle of Mull
- Tomatin
- Speyside
- Tomintoul
- Speyside
- Tormore
- Speyside
- Tullibardine
- Central Highlands
-
Elsewhere...
- Pur.e distillery
- Belgium
- Glann ar Mor
- France
- Warenghem
- France
- Pur.e distillery
96
-
5