Linkwood whiskies

History

Linkwood was founded at the beginning of the 19th century, in the first wave of legal distilleries that followed the 1823 tax reform, and was rebuilt several times over its history. For much of the 20th century one of its managers became famous for his superstition: he refused to change anything in the distillery, not even the cobwebs, for fear of altering the whisky’s flavour. Today the distillery is modern and part of Diageo, which reserves almost all its whisky for blending. Its malt is part of the group’s blends.

House style

Linkwood’s malt is light, floral and fruity: flowers, green apple, freshly cut grass, honey and a touch of wax, over a cereal background. It is delicate and clean, without smoke. Because of that very aromatic profile it is a highly valued component of blends, and on its own it is an elegant, fresh malt. It is the kind of malt that benefits from a few drops of water, which open up its floral and fruit notes. Because of its delicacy, it is best appreciated neat and without ice.

Where to start

Linkwood 12 Flora & Fauna is the catalogue’s entry and the simplest way to try the distillery. If you like its floral style, compare it with other light Speyside malts such as Glen Grant 10, Tomintoul 10 or Speyburn 10. Independent bottlers also often release Linkwood casks.

• Linkwood 12 Year Old Flora & FaunaSingle malt · 43% ABV