Linkwood 2018/2024 - 6 yo - Tawny Port Barrique - Murray McDavid

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 53.2% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Distilled in 2018, this Linkwood spent five of its six years of maturation in First Fill Tawny Port Barriques from Portugal's Caves de Murça in the Douro Valley. Before this extended finishing period, the whisky matured in Bourbon Hogsheads. Murray McDavid married the whisky from casks 301298, 301300, 301302 and 301390 and bottled a total of 1,416 bottles at 53.2% in autumn 2024 for the Benchmark range.

The extended Port maturation shapes the interplay of berry fruit and sweet cake notes. Honey, chocolate and nuts complement Black Forest gateau, toffee and walnut cake, while peppery fruit and floral notes define the finish. The whisky is non-chill-filtered and contains no colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, mixed berries and honey mingle with chocolate-covered nuts.
• Palate: On the palate, the whisky evokes Black Forest gateau, toffee and walnut cake. Currants, cherries and blackberries complement these sweet impressions.
• Finish: The long finish brings together peppery fruit notes, floral accents and lingering spice.

Distillery/Bottler:

Linkwood was founded on the outskirts of Elgin in 1821 and began production in 1824. The Speyside distillery is known for its light, fragrant style. Clear wort, long fermentation and slow distillation with extensive copper contact contribute to this character. The spirit selected for this edition also has a light, fruit-led underlying character.

Murray McDavid oversaw the further maturation and released the whisky as an independent bottler in its Benchmark range. The company was founded in 1994 by wine merchants Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin together with Gordon Wright of Springbank. Their experience with wine informs the selection of casks for finishing. Today, Murray McDavid operates at the former Coleburn Distillery site in Speyside, continuing its specialisation in casks with different previous contents.

Facts: