Linkwood 10yo (40%, Inverarity, +/-2009)

From www.lfw.co.uk Quality and value. From the Linkwood Distillery, much acclaimed by blenders, this is our first house malt and is a fine example of a Bourbon cask matured Speyside malt. Easily drinkable any time of day this pleases both an experienced whisky drinker as well as showing the benefits of a great whisky to a novice.

On the nose there is some heather, light rose and mildly ‘green’ followed by some really good malt and Weetabix. The aromas are more fragrant than malty and the green and floral notes certainly have a prominent role to play. The taste is fruity (where did that come from?), then malty and heathery with some light honey followed by some cocoa and wood spice flavours. It’s nice. In the back ground there are some hints of leather and tobacco; just enough to give some back bone. The finish is mildly smokey at first followed by the heathery leather notes, malt and ultimately sweetness. It is malty chewy after a short while but the finish is actually quite long. And good.

Loch Fyne Whiskies are correct this is a good dram. If the rose and ‘green’ notes are too dominate when you open the bottle then pour a dram or two and then return to the bottle in a few months; they’ll have settled down quite a bit.

£24

Score 84 points