Linkwood 17 Years Old 1997 Old Particular (48.4%, Douglas Laing, Refill HH #10413, 401 Bottles, 2014)

• Single malt scotch whisky
• 48.4% ABV
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

A 17 year old expression from Linkwood distillery bottled as part of the Old Particular range

One of 401 bottles charged from a refill hogshead. Ref  – DL10413

This single cask was distilled June 1997 and bottled August 2014

Nose: Anticipate citrus fruits as it opens – really fresh and clean – then later runny caramel

Palate: Sweet leather character developing to a gristy sweetness with ripe, green apples

Finish: Long with lemons, grapefruit and freshly cut grass (CSL)

What I say:

Dram #4 during our visit to the  Douglas Laing & Co Ltd. HQ was this 17 year old Linkwood expression, again bottled in the  ‘Old Particular’ range.

Colour:

Light gold

Nose:

Floral initially and light, vanilla, cereal, barley malt, oaky and slightly ascerbic

Taste:

Sweet and bitter. citric grapefruit, lemon and lime, green apple, floral blossom, oak wood

Finish:

Long, floral and sweet icing sugar persists

Overall:

A very light expression bottled from the Linkwood distillery, a distillery I have been sampling a lot lately. Some of the light fruit and icing sugar sweetness was present in this dram that I have found before. Rather unfussy this one and of a gentle temperament, perhaps an aperitif or summer dram. Light and refreshing.