Linkwood 23yo 1983/2006 (52.1%, Murray McDavid Mission Gold, Madeira casks fin., 700 Bts.)

A cask strength offering that has been gathering dust on a shelf since 2006 bottled by Murray McDavid, without chill filtration, the addition of coloring AND the cask was selected by Jim McEwan. The nose is sweet and mildly buttery along with bourbon, bees wax and some very mild perfume; heather, roses, pine resin. Additionally there are some hints of plump raisins and warm brown sugar. Strong oak and assorted wood notes. With water it becomes slightly more aggressive and lacks the sweetness; the floral/perfume notes increase. Even though it is cask strength perhaps it would benefit by not adding water. The taste is sweet as with many Madeira finished whiskies but seems to lack an essential character and is perhaps over whelmed by the finishing. The Bourbon pokes it’s head through once in a while but it’s a rare sighting. Still, it’s tasty so there can’t be too much moaning. There is some pleasant butter to the taste along with some mild tobacco. With water there is an improvement (oops, ignore previous please) and it’s actually much better, the butter characteristic and the sweetness, the wood & Bourbon are all well integrated.  The finish is warming, not overly long and features lots of dry wood notes, brandy, cedar and furniture polish. After a short while the oak is quite evident but little else.

The Madeira has brought this cask up market.

C$125

Score 82 Points