1989 Linkwood 27 Year Old “John Milroy” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $250) ($149.99)

The Linkwood distillery is one of the crown jewel’s in the Diageo portfolio. The distillery was originally constructed in 1821 and licensed in 1825 making it one of Speysides oldest. Much like Clynelish, in the 1970s a second distillery was erected next door and the original distillery shuttered in 1985. Today the washbacks from both distilleries are still in use, but the stills at the “old” Linkwood are silent. It remains highly prized for blending because it offers a wonderful balance between rich fruit and bold malt. Here we have a stupendous single cask, this one well into its third decade of maturation. It’s extremely rare to see Linkwood at this age, Linkwood above 25 years old becomes an absolute rarity. That’s why we had no problem selling a similarly aged Linkwood from Signatory for $200 not long ago. The style here is ultra classic aromas of baked apples, fresh bartlett pear, earthy malt, and subtle vanilla. On the palate the richness is impressive, the natural result of incredible concentration over nearly three decades. While this is a relatively low abv cask strength it remains incredibly full and textured. On the palate, big fudge cocoa elements pop up around sweet vanillas, subtle antique wood notes and rich orchard fruits. The perfect balance between sweet fruit, malty richness and exotic savory qualities. This is one of those no brainer whiskies for people who really care about complexity over power. No more than the tiniest drop of water for this one.

Anthony Russo | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 20, 2017

This Linkwood has an awesome, and very unique, “old wood” aroma that instantly makes your head spin (in a GREAT way). Beautiful and muted citrus zest, dark molasses, and a faint musky undertone round this scotch out. With loads of complexities and a great mouthfeel, the easy-going alcohol content make this juice go down nice and smooth. Grassy notes on the palate truly give this Scotch a sense of place. Settle into the couch after dinner with a glass of this.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 18, 2017

I always look forward to getting a bottling from Linkwood because Linkwood usually offers both good aromatics and great flavors. This bottling from John Milroy has an expressive and pronounced nose of honey and beeswax. In the mouth it is juicy with light and pretty notes of honey and a delicious finish. I tasted this offering with no additional water.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 21, 2017

Here is some really old whisky from a great hard to find distillery for a wonderful price. The nose is all fudge, fruit, and sweet malt. Please don’t add more than the tiniest drop of water (if that) as it’s naturally down to near 90 proof. It must have been in a very humid part of the warehouse. Some air and we start to get baking bread, whiffs of marmalade and old exotic wood. The palate is ultra buttery in texture, luscious and fruit forward. A stupendously drinkable old malt that remains fresh and ultra balanced despite the intense age. A total treat to find such old wonderful whisky at this spectacular price.

Membership & 112.14 Offer

‘Funky, feisty and youthful’, three words that a friend or loved one may be over the moon to hear. We’re offering Society membership plus this sweet, fruity and mellow 8-year-old whisky for only £80. The perfect gift for the fun-loving whisky enthusiast, especially with Father’s Day on Sunday.

VIEW OFFER

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Ralfy examines versions of an Islay malt with Ralfy Review 658 – Caol Ila 2003 @46%vol (G&MacP)

Feis Ile 2017 – Islay Festival Photo Gallery

We’re back from the Islay Festival of Music and Malt, after a successful week of pouring whisky, meeting old friends and making new ones. The Whisky Exchange Islay Pop-up Bar was a success, with hundreds of old and rare drams poured, drunk and enthusiastically raved about. All going to plan, you’ll see us back next year.

A series of Rare Cask serves designed by the Roca brothers

Masters of creativity and innovation, the Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca push every boundary possible in the culinary sphere to challenge, inspire, and create memorable experiences. The Roca brothers have created a collection of specialist bar tools and glassware, along with unique serves of The Macallan Rare Cask which feature in the latest Masters of Photography artwork. Steven Klein talks about the El Celler de Can Roca approach as an “ideology of food and whisky that gives a truly different perspective”.

THE MACALLAN RARE CASK + APEROL & LEMON JUICE 

INGREDIENTS
1/3 The Macallan Rare Cask
1/3 Aperol
1/3 lemon juice

THE PERFECT SERVE
1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Pour The Macallan Rare Cask over the ice.
3. Add the Aperol.
4. Add the lemon juice.
5. Stir until well cooled.
6. Strain the liquid through the ice into the cocktail glass.

DISCOVER THE SERIES ~ BUY THE MACALLAN RARE CASK ~ MEET THE ROCA BROTHERS

**New Stock**

Carn Mor

Celebration of the cask

“Celebration Of The Cask is a very limited range of whiskies from all over Scotland. All the bottles are numbered and once they are gone they cannot be replaced as they are all one off bottlings from a single cask. They are bottled at cask strength and are all non-chill-filtered“

WESTPORT 21 YEAR OLD, 1995 52.6%

Victoria sponge and limes are evident on the palette with a long and sweet finish. A deceptive nose is stronger than the dram delivers. Delightfully smooth and complex. Delicious.

MORTLACH 21 YEAR OLD,  1995, 52.6%

Moving away from the standard meatiness that we often see from Mortlach, this bottle is filled with Marzipan, pears, apples and citrus, an absolute must for fans of Mortlach.

CAPERDONICH 1992  58.9%

A fruit explosion and a delightful dram from Caperdonich. Strong citrus notes and a rich chocolate finish. A very slight smoke comes through once given time to open in the glass. Give this dram some time and you’ll enjoy what it gives back.

BUY NOW

THE LORE AND LURE OF HIGHLAND PARK

Highland Park’s new Valkerie release, much like its previous releases, is long on viking mythology and short on specifics, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste good. I did a side by side comparison with the 12 and 18 year this week and felt that-as a middle ground between the two-the whisky holds up right where it should for the $70 price. More importantly, it tastes like the best parts of both whiskies. While the 12 year is light and fruity, the classic 18 year is remarkedly more sherried. With the Valkyrie, you get the malty, lightly-peated texture of the 12 with some of the rancio, cakebread, and richness of the 18. From what I understand, about half of the barley used in the Valkyrie was peated, which is higher than what’s used in the 12 and 18. That extra kick helps to mask any rawness from the whisky’s younger components and was clearly a good move. On the finish is a wave of dark chocolate and earth from the sherry, bolstered by more smoke. The packaging is nicely revamped and marks the beginning of a complete make-over for the entire portfolio. I think fans of the Orkney distillery will find this new expression to be a VAST improvement over the previous Dark Origins.

What I appreciate most here is that the Valkyrie delivers its finest work on the nose and the finish, rather than on the mid-palate. These are two elements of whisky appreciation I appreciate more as I get older: how it teases my nostrils and how it comes together as a unit on the back end. There’s a robust sherry aroma right out of the bottle, and sweet, concentrated hit of Oloroso richness on the finish that dries out a bit with the smoke, but clearly makes itself known. While Highland Park went heavier on Orkney’s viking heritage this time around, they didn’t do so at the expense of the whisky.

Highland Park “Valkyrie” Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($69.99)

Old Pulteney 21 Year Old

The Old Pulteney distillery in Wick is discontinuing their 21 year old Highland single malt so this could be one of your last chances to buy this fantastic expression!Marrying together spirit matured in ex-bourbon casks, ex-Oloroso sherry casks, second fill American oak and some first-fill Spanish oak, the taste is a result of the unique wash still at the distillery, reflected in the deisgn of the bottle.

Order by 10am on Wednesday 14th June to ensure delivery in time for Father’s Day

£150 Buy Now

Great drams for great dads!

Choosing a gift that says just how much your dad means to you can be tough… but then there’s always whisky! We’ve got a great selection of some fantastic drams to suit every discerning dad’s palate – from engraved bottles of our own Loch Fyne range to gift sets, taster packs and the latest releases! Best of all, we ship all over the world and you can even get next day delivery in the UK.

So what are you waiting for? Raise a dram with dad this Father’s Day!

Personalised

The Loch Fyne Blend Engraved

£34.00

The Loch Fyne Living Cask 4 Engraved

£50.00