Linkwood 28yo 1982 (53.9%, SMWS, Refill Hogs Head 39.83, +/-2012)

On the nose there are some very nice honeyed notes as well as some slight ‘greenish’ back ground notes (think cut grass but not cut flowers which can be bitter) but the latter dissipates quite quickly leaving the afore mentioned honey firmly in place. There are also some vibrant unlit cured tobacco notes (think of both tobacco and some sweetness). The taste is big and vibrant with all the aromas previously mentioned present however the greenish notes are not. Some nice malt, a bit of ‘meatiness’ and the sweet tobacco tie it altogether very nicely. This is very good and it’s not too dramatic one way or the other but sits firmly on solid center ground. The finish is much like the nose and the taste (Hurrah! -Great balance) and some fantastic lightly smoked malt (where did the smoke come from?) and still the honey holds on however the malt takes the gold medal here. Quite long and holds together well. Lashing of malt and then sadly it’s over.

More vibrancy than one would expect for a 28yo whisky and a real delight.

$180 and 120 bottles for the US branch of the Society

Score 89 points

Part 1 of 4 featuring the excellent single cask single malts of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. Samples kindly provided by the SMWS of A.

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.