Linkwood 26 year old 1982 Red Wine Finish
Review by Linkwood
- Nose
Nose-warming; slight prickle. Soft, deep and rounded, with creamy toffee and fudge. Opens up to reveal sweet fruitiness: jelly babies (in Germany, Gummi Bears) and red fruits (redcurrants, grapes) with citric (blood orange) notes and balancing oaky-dry planed wood. Later, a hint of wine, and more fudge. With water, mellow, with a fugitive whiff of blackcurrants. Distinctly wine-like to start, then wine gums?
- Palate
Smooth mouthfeel at natural strength, with a brief sweetness soon swallowed by tannic dryness. Fruity, tart wine gums with a powder sugar dusting. Softer and fizzy-sweet with water, with some fudge and pleasing red berry fruit; lightly mouth drying, although sweet overall, with interesting tannic influences.
- Finish
Medium length: smooth, fruity and nutty. Cherry stones and white chocolate. Late oak brings liquorice.
- Note
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Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside. Drinks very well at natural strength and will appeal to cognac drinkers. With water the nose flattens, but the flavour becomes more complex. Benefits enormously from (not too much) water and time to breathe. One of three 26 year old Linkwoods released together. Each is finished in different wood, although the original distillery character has not been subsumed by the finishing casks, so they bear a family resemblance. Even if you’re not usually a fan of wine finishes, they are worthy of comparison; the rum/wine flavours are indiscernible as such, although they create an integrated whole.
