Tag Archives: Thin

A World of Discovery, Linkwood, Summertime, Takin' It Easy

1992 Linkwood by McGibbon’s – a single cask Provenance bottling 46% ABV

Speyside region – 46%ABV – 750ml – $76

I am very new to Linkwood.  Many out there (especially Americans) simply have not even heard of Linkwood.  Most of their whiskies are used in Johnnie Walker (among other blends).  However, there are many indy bottlings out there (this being one of them) as well as some distillery bottlings.

So far I’ve had this and a Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling.  The SMWS bottling is mind blowing – I’ll be posting on that shortly.  This one is very nice.

On the nose – Huh… notes of imitation pine needle spray (like an artificial Christmas wreath).

Light toffee notes.   Lemons and creamsicles.

Fresh cut wood.  Better yet, damp plywood.

Perfumed like a “Puerto Rican Shower” (not trying to offend anyone of Latino heritage, it’s a ridiculous term indeed.  Ridiculous, imaginative, horrible but quite descriptive).

On the mouth – Extremely light mouthfeel.

Lemon caramel (caramel in flavor, not feel – again, this is a thinner one).

Slightly nutty.

A touch winey – think tannins with a small amount of fruit.   Actually, I’m reminded of a dry summery rosé here.

Wow, in the last sip bigger sherry notes came out.  Nice.

Finish – Oh, it’s all about the finish here.

Great caramel notes.

Baked potato with sour cream and scallions (is this juice from one of those Wonka sticks of gum)?

Short with feel, long in flavor.

In sum – Light and pleasant.  An easy drinker if you just want to relax or, if you want to concentrate on it a bit, you can find that there is a fair amount of complexity here.  A nice summer dram.

A World of Discovery, All You Need Is Love, Glenglassaugh, Let's celebrate!

Glenglassaugh 30yr 55.1% – a true celebratory malt

Speyside region – 55.1%ABV – 70cl Decanter (yes folks, a decanter.) – £390 | €469

I’ll be upfront here.  Many folks out there will not have the chance to try this stuff.  It’s rare and it’s very expensive.  Before you start calling me a Daddy Warbucks I will tell you that I reviewed this dram from a sample.  A big, *BIG* thank you goes out to Alan for the sample!  Cheers He’bro!

Why am I so excited about a bottle I could never afford?  Well, because A) some of you good people out there can swing the squids for a bottle and B) Glenglassaugh is a newly re-opened distillery and if this whisky is any indication as to what we’ll see coming out of their stills & casks, well…  let’s say we should all be excited.

On to the whisky!

On the nose – Light & fruity nose filled with a mist of lemons (better yet, Etrog) and white pepper.

A hints of lovely oak to it.  Sweet flowers and Sharpies (black markers).

Honey salted butter (unmelted butter – a fresh stick).

Black licorice.

Sugar cubes and almond oil.

On the mouth – Fruity – Apples and berries.

Loads of toffee and burnt tea leaves.

Rose water (oh, I love this!).

This is getting hotter by the second — cayenne and jalepeno notes pop in right as it heats up – brilliant.

Black grapes and cherry skins.

The mouthfeel went from oily and chewy but we go quickly over to thin and hot.

Finish – Prickly pears both in taste and feel “prickly” tongue and cheeks.

In sum – I am thankful to have had a chance to taste this stuff.  I was only 6 years old when this was distilled.  That aside, there’s a reason this is an award winning whisky.  Powerful and truly enjoyable Scotch whisky!  Another dram to break out for the most special of life cycle events such as the birth of a child, marriage, bar/bat mitzvah (for my heebs out there), Christening (because I’m an equal opportunity whisky lover), etc…

Last month I had the good opportunity to interview Stuart Nickerson (Managing Director of the newly re-opened Glenglassaugh distillery).  If you’ve not yet had a chance to read it, you may want to do so right now.  Part 1 & Part 2