Special Releases

Linkwood 37-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky (2016) Review


I’ve never tasted whisky from the  Linkwood Distillery.  Not because I’ve avoided it.  Original bottlings of Linkwood single malt are rare.  Just about all of the whisky distilled at Speyside distillery goes towards blends.  Linkwood 37 was distilled in 1978.  It matured in refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts.  It’s pretty inexpensive for a 37-year-old single malt, retailing for $900.  Linkwood 37-year is also bottled at cask strength (50.3%).

Elegant.  The soft, sweet nose features stewed fruit and some herbs, specifically fresh mint.  A light toffee note becomes more apparent with some airtime, along with soft spice, sandlewood, and a floral note. On the palate, creme brulee develops into cinnamon sprinkled rice pudding and baking spices, which leads into some garden herbs.  Things become a touch astringent towards the back palate.  The finish features light spice and anise, as well as hints of fruit.

A beautiful whisky!  Linkwood 37 year is probably my third favorite of the bunch.  Its fruity, spicy and dry nature is spellbounding.  Well done.  9/10

Thanks to Diageo for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Caol Ila 15-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky (2016) Review

Caol Ila is known for its peated whisky, but once a year it distills a batch of unpeated whisky.   That’s what we have in front of us today.  The 15-year-old was distilled in 2000 and aged in refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts.  Like other whiskies in the Special Releases series, this unpeated Caol Ila is bottled at cask strength (61.5% abv) for a retail price of $140.

The nose is malty, with orchard fruits, lemon rind and a vanilla cream.  Caramelized apples dominate the entry, followed by hints of spice and freshly squeezed lemon.  A sweet malty character appears late in the palate and into the finish, where it is complemented by some oak spice. 

Overall, Caol Ila 15 year is a nice, delicate malt.  Though I can’t help missing that added peat element of the standard bottlings.  8/10

Thanks to Diageo for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cragganmore Single Malt Whisky (2016) Review

The only whisky in this year’s collection without an age statement, Cragganmore is a vatting of three cask types “chosen for flavor alone,” according to press materials.  They include both refill & rejuvenated American Oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European Oak butts.  Like the rest of the collection, Cragganmore is bottled at cask strength, or 55.7% abv in this case and retails for $600.  This marks the Speyside distillery’s sixth appearance in the Special Releases series.  How is it?

The nose has a fresh citrus quality, almost like freshly sliced tangerines. Hints of graham cracker, cinnamon sticks, honey and mint ice cream help round out the aromas. The palate starts sweet and quickly turns dry. Honey and spice cake at first. The citrus from the nose is also here, as well as light touch of brine. Things turn when chardonnay develops mid-palate, along with a touch of herbs. Oak tannins take hold going into the finish, as honey and herbs emerge. 

Cragganmore is a nicely crafted NAS whisky, but I just wasn’t blown away by it. 7/10