Private Collection
Personally selected by members of the Urquhart family that has owned Gordon & Macphail for four generations. Private Collection whiskies are greatly‐aged single malts from celebrated, little‐known, or closed distilleries.
Nose – Apple
Rich red apple intertwines with orange zest and sweet dark honey. Subtle lemon sherbet notes come to the fore alongside key lime pie and vanilla pod.
Taste – Almond
Soft citrus, subtle dried tobacco and salted almond flavours give way to apple crumble and banana.
Finish – Pineapple
A smooth finish with tropical fruits and roasted nuts.
Linkwood 1971 – Tasting Notes by Charles MacLean
50YO Single Cask Speyside Malt @ 42.8% Vol | (cask 9801 1203)
Charlie scores this exceptional whisky 94/100!
Appearance: Deep umber in colour; old brown sherry – surprisingly deep since the cask is a refill American oak hogshead. Remarkably good beading at this relatively low strength.
Aroma: A mellow nose-feel, with no prickle. The top notes are of oil scented with bergamot, becoming scented hand cream; backed by tablet toffee and Parma violet sweets, with a hint of black tea leaves in a tea caddie. An actress’s dressing room table comes to mind! A drop of water reduces the fragrance but does not alter its essentials: more faded and delicate.
Taste: A big, soft, mouth-filling texture and a sweet, mid-palate taste, with just a hint of white pepper in the long finish and a return of the Parma violets in the aftertaste. Very easy to drink at natural strength, but equally good when reduced – now exhibiting an intriguing sour note, with more warmth in the finish.
Comment: This is a gorgeous old whisky with all the complexity that only advanced age in a good cask. A haughty dowager duchess of a whisky – noble and impeccable – or maybe an elderly but very well preserved French film-star.
