1991 Linkwood 21 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml

Diageo's Linkwood distillery is generally considered one of, if not the best of, the Speyside distilleries that are not sold stateside. We're lucky to find a delicious, independently bottled expression from time to time and we're always on the lookout for something special. While most Speyside distilleries use heavy amounts of sherry, Linkwood's elegant, fruity style stands on its own when aged in hogshead barrels as an alternative. Unfortunately, getting that delicate nuance of fruit and vanilla takes time and we haven't seen older expressions of Linkwood very often. Our friends at Sovereign dug deep into their inventory, however, and surfaced with exactly what we desired: unsherried Linkwood with more than two decades of time in the barrel. Graceful, playful, and light with flavors of stonefruit, with the vanilla from the wood acting as a backbone. Because it's bottled at cask strength, water is key to toning down the proof and releasing the potential for more flavor. A few drops helps balance the power and brings out notes of baking spice, resinous oils, and more richness from the wood. This is a whisky we expect many to pass over in favor of our other, more exciting casks, before coming back around later to realize they've overlooked a true gem. The sleeper of the older expressions we've had bottled. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)