Linkwood 2012/2022 - 9 yo - Oloroso Cask - Murray McDavid

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A three-year Oloroso finish shapes this Linkwood from Murray McDavid's Benchmark series. Following initial maturation in bourbon hogsheads, the whisky spent time in first-fill Oloroso sherry hogsheads from Jerez in Andalusia. This extended finishing period adds sherry-cask influences to the distillery's light, fruity character.

The single malt was distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2022 after nine years of maturation. The bottling contains whisky from casks 313777, 313778, 313779 and 313780 and is limited to 1,503 bottles. It is bottled at 46% alcohol in a 0.7-litre bottle, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, lush fruit notes meet creamy mocha aromas and vanilla.
• Palate: On the palate, praline and honey-sweet malt combine with sweet spice notes.
• Finish: The finish feels oily, leaving dark chocolate and gentle oak notes.

Distillery/Bottler:

Linkwood lies on the outskirts of Elgin in Scotland's Speyside region. Peter Brown founded the distillery in 1821, and production began four years later. Its history includes two neighbouring distillery plants: a new plant with four stills was added in 1971. The older plant ceased regular production in 1985 and, following occasional experimental distillations, was eventually demolished in 2012.

Murray McDavid is responsible for the cask selection and this independent bottling. The company was founded in 1994 by wine merchants Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin, together with Gordon Wright of Springbank. Their experience with wine informed the early use of different wine casks for whisky maturation. Today, Murray McDavid is based at Coleburn Distillery in Speyside and continues this work with carefully selected maturation casks.

Facts: