Linkwood 1990 GM

Thank you Mark!

EYE / NOSE Deep dark tones. 'Cola' basically says it all. Very spicy on the nose. Cedarwood, tobacco, black pepper, nutmeg, thyme and dark chocolate cream. Leather polish and ginger sticks. Then hot, black coffee that takes over as soon as you have indulged in the scent. The fine sweetness does not seem artificially sugary. Dates come to mind, and dark honey can also be seen in the background. The alcohol is present, but in no way stings. PALATE Very pleasant, powerful mouthfeel. The Blender's glass fits the character of the Linkwood like a glove and gets everything out of this wonderful malt in terms of aromas. In terms of taste, my journey of discovery begins with freshly roasted espresso beans, followed by sweet liquorice and delicately tart dark chocolate with an exceptionally high cocoa content - 80% or more. It even looks a little salty. No massive individual aromas, as one might fear, but a pleasant 'sherry carpet' - too heavy to pass as filigree but nevertheless exceptionally harmonious. Fine notes of nuts and almonds and indeed some 'green', grassy notes that are reminiscent of Linkwood's distillery character. Astonishing depth and structure of taste that are seldom found today. Actually, these experiences are hardly to be found with 'modern sherry malts', but rather are reserved for sinfully expensive distillates from the 1950s / 60s, even before the sweet Paxarette era. Anyone who knows sherry-stored Glen Grants from those early years, for example, knows what I'm talking about. But, as is well known, exceptions determine the rule. FINISH / CONCLUSION Long, extremely spicy, dry finish. The oak spice with its sweet mocha notes and plenty of tobacco literally 'stands' on the tongue and won't let go. Very elegant, chocolaty and tannic bitterness. The wood is pleasantly noticeable. Last but not least, a hint of lime. Very classic profile, also in the aftertaste. No missing notes. The malt is neither unpleasantly bitter nor over-spicy, like so many of the young, black finishes of modern times, nor does sulfur cloud the enjoyment. What kind of powerful, impressive dram has matured here? Not a sweet 'lollipop', as you can sometimes find it in the sherry sector, but an exceptionally robust sherry painting with clear corners and edges, which I haven't tasted in a long time. Not a pleasing flatterer, but a very mature looking, sophisticated whisky that deserves time and attention. The comparison with the famous GlenAllachie 1989, 30yo Oloroso is interesting. Two formally very similar and yet wonderfully different pearls. In direct comparison, the GlenAllachie gives the rather fruity aroma bomb, whereas our Linkwood likes its role as a relic from bygone days. Very strong whisky! #Maltkanzlei (Facebook)

Quite uncommon profile, for sure not boring - pretty good

Sublime sherried whisky, nothing less. I wish I had a million bottles of this. Review: https://youtu.be/y8J3_JE4Vp8

Nose - powerful, thick sherry, sweet dates combined with the dryness of the barrel. Tobacco and leather, clear, sour coffee, lots of dried fruit but not too sweet. After a long time, forest fruits appear in syrup (mainly blackberries). Taste - a hit of dry sherry, then a slight acidity of coffee beans, chocolate, nutmeg, bitter tea, tobacco, no perceptible alcohol. Finish - Oak, bitter black tea, some dried fruit, suddenly a sweet mint lozenge appears (that one in the chocolate), then disappears and a pleasant tobacco note remains.

Varnish, soy sauce, red fruits, liquorice, cinnamon, dark chocolate, oak, cereals, quite oaky but very enjoyable

A taste mix like fireworks. Explosion after explosion. Nose: Furniture polish, nectar and sherry (PX). Also some sweet caramel fudge. A hint of sweet citrus fruit like organge or nectarin. Sweet wood like balsa wood or ceder wood. Taste: A hint of cooked vegetables, Sweet sweet sherry and nuts with dark honey. A warm balanced spicyness. A fresh taste of new cut grass or cloves. Just a hint of tobacco but not overwhelming. Finish: Sweet sherry, raisins, honey and cut grass. Very creamy and oily with just the right amount of coffee bitterness mixed with the sherry sweetness.

Great profile of whisky in sherry. Dense, rich, viscous, like hot tar. Realizing all its power, I prepared to drink it with fears with which a child tries to drink hot tea, fearing to get burned.

91-100 – Whisky heaven, best stuff

This is a whisky from another planet. The nose seduces you with tobacco, bee wax and a hint of citrus and the best part is yet to come. The flavour is unbelievable smooth with cherries, figs en prunes. Delicious. In the aftertaste a little wood, but just right to stay with you with a nutty while. A little longer would even be better.

Don't rip one off your stool, especially the nose seems quite static. Blindly I would have assumed a half-hearted wet cask finish due to the average sherry quality, but the bottle label is not very clear either. For the full review, go here: https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2022/09/12/90er-speyside/

Amazing whisky! Very closed at first, he needs to breathe properly. Rich sherry aroma and taste, lots of dried fruits and dark chocolate, lots of tannits. Long and deep aftertaste.

Tasting: June 2022

Very voluminous and fruity nose, really great malt to smell. On the palate, however, I find the fruit acidity and bitterness too superficial

It reminds me of a certain Uberach 2004, which I have no shame in associating with it; perhaps less divisive. Original monster sherry, delicious in any case.