Linkwood 33 Year Old 1998 The Whisky Jury

'In remembrance of Mr Peter Cowell' is written in small print on the label. The Scotsman Cowell recently died and had this cask of Linkwood in his possession. The children sold the cask and that's how it ended up with Joeri from The Whisky Jury. They couldn't have found of a better bottler, I think. Joeri even gave them a few bottles to pay tribute to their father. It is a refill hogshead that has been sleeping for no less than 33 years since March 1988. I didn't even have my driver's license yet. After just over three decades, the cask still yielded 176 bottles. You can find pictures of the actual barrel on the Facebook account of The Whisky Jury.

Let me start with the obvious: this is complex! Dried apricots, a stew of apples and pears with some pineapple and gooseberries. Some orange peels. Yellow potpourri and tiger balm. Nice and waxy, I must say. A fresh leaf of mint and the scent of a field full of wild flowers in the first weeks of spring.

On the palate: again, complex! And even more than the nose already promised. Beautiful mix of apples and pears, but now with a nice sweet and sour note like blood orange and pink grapefruit, supplemented with bergamot oil, paraffin and chamomile tea. Something of chestnut for a slight bitterness. The oak gives it some soft and surprisingly sweet spiciness, without becoming dominant and that after more than three decades. Brilliant.

Beautiful, medium long finish that remains fruity and towards the end becomes somewhat drying like over infused fruit tea.

Do you remember my comment about the Secret Speyside 1989 by Asta Morris? Well, this is also one that is apparently very solid, but in fact a gem if you give it enough attention. And this one is worth your attention, trust me. It is – sorry – was for sale for 285 EUR. Thanks to The Bonding Dram for the sample.

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