I last reviewed a Linkwood exactly two years ago. The time is right for another review. Here it is. This Berry Bros. & Rudd cask is a bit of a mystery. Whiskybase lists the same cask at cask strength whereas this is at 46%. Normally, I would put this down to shenanigans on the part of the source of my sample, the diabolical Florin. However, Michael K. who also received a sample of this reports that this 46% version was indeed sold at Total Wine back in the day. Same cask, two releases at different strengths? Maybe. Anyway, here is my take on it (read Michael’s review from earlier this year here).

Linkwood 1991-2011 (46%; Berry Bros. & Rudd; cask 10343; from a sample from a friend)

Nose: Oh this is nicely fruity—tinned fruit (a blend of peach, pineapple and mango) and also the tin. It’s not a fruit bomb—the fruit is not intense, but it is there. After a couple of minutes there’s a bit of prickly oak as well. As it sits the fruit expands a bit and there’s some citrus in there too now. A couple of drops of water push the metallic and oaky notes back.

Palate: As promised by the nose with a big malty, biscuity note as I swallow. Very nice texture at 46%. The fruit expands here too as it sits and there’s a bit of brown sugar mixed in with the malty, biscuity note now. Even sweeter as it goes. Okay, let’s add water. Hmm the opposite of what happens on the nose: it seems to get thinner and more metallic with water here.

Finish: Long. That malty, biscuity thing turns into oak but while it’s got a bit of bite it’s not tannic at all. Gets sweeter here too with time but that bite is still there. As on the palate with water.

Comments: I don’t know how much this went for when it was on the go but in the $80 range it would have been a good pick-up. Not complex whisky but it has no flaws either.

Rating: 86 points.

Thanks to Florin for the sample!