Linkwood 19 Year Old 1990 The Ultimate

Van Wees is a Dutch bottler that launches its whiskies under the somewhat bombastic (and in my opinion not so please to the eye) label The Ultimate. This Linkwood was distilled in 1990 and bottled at drinking strength.

The nose is nicely sweet and flowery. Rich spices and fruit. On the one hand juicy blood oranges, on the other hand dry peach and pineapple. Ginger, nutmeg and even some saffron. Hints of espresso and chicory (who still knows this?). I am pretty sure this was a sherry cask. Gooseberries. Mint and camomile. Sugared citrus peel. This is really very fresh.

Creamy and accessible to the palate. Feistly and slightly alcoholic, but so sweet. Yep, this must have been a sherry cask. I can taste the wine. Citrus, but also sultanas and some tannins, but never too much. Well balanced.

The finish is medium to long, very sweet with the return of the oak on the deathbed.

A very pleasant surprise that again proves that good whisky needs to be neither old or at cask strength. A revelation. Around 40 EUR, you say? That is dirt cheap.

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