Linkwood 10 Years Old 2009 Reserve Casks Parcel No. 4 (48%, Elixir Distillers, 2020)

• ABV: 48%
• Age: 10 Years Old
• Bottling: Elixir Distillers, The Single Malts of Scotland, Reserve Casks, Parcel No.4
• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £54.95 available from The Whisky Exchange
• Origin: Linkwood distillery
• Vintage: 2009

What they say

A 10-year-old Linkwood single malt from indie bottler Elixir Distillers, matured in a small selection of casks before being bottled in 2020 as part of its Reserve Cask series Parcel 4.

Official tasting notes:

Aromas of green melon, freshly-cut hay, ripe barley, apple and blackcurrant fill the nose, with hints of butterscotch in the background. The palate offers notes of barley sugar sweets, under-ripe pears, nettle soup, crunchy red apples, sea salt and black pepper that linger in the finish.

What I say

Sampled during the WOLS Elixir Distillers tasting hosted by their Brand Ambassador Julie Hamilton. This batch of Linkwood comprised 7 casks distilled in 2009 and included 5 refill barrels and 2 hogsheads, all ex-Bourbon.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Pale champagne gold (3/20), slow, medium-fine tears and fine legs.
• Nose: Buttery, vanilla, soft, juicy fruits, apple and pear, green, kiwi, melon.
• Taste: Buttery, icing sugar, sweet/ripe orchard fruits, apple, pear, apple turnover or Danish pastries
• Finish: Medium-long, spirity, spicy, vaporous and sweet.

Overall

This came across as a little young, spirity and vanillic, tasted blind I guessed either Speyside or Lowland so wasn’t far off the mark for a small batch Linkwood in ex-Bourbon casks.

Score 81/100

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