Linkwood

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > L

LINKWOOD

15 years old

43%
Proprietors: John McEwan & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

23 years old

40 %
Distilled 1967
Bottled 1990
Proprietors: John McEwan & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

50 years old

40 %
Distilled 1939
Bottled 1989
Proprietors: John McEwan & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

10 years old

43 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 30.10.84
Butt No. 4034
Bottled 6.95
840 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

LINKWOOD

25 years old

40%
Proprietors: John McEwan & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

30 years old

40%

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Distilled 1972
Bottled 2002
Proprietors: John McEwan & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

15 years old

43 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE 1987
THE DECANTER COLLECTION
Distilled 12.11.87
Bottled 05.06.02
Cask No. 4129
878 Genummerde flessen
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

LINKWOOD

26 years old

56.1 %

RARE MALTS SELECTION
Natural Cask Strenght
Limited Edition
Distilled 1975
Bottled May 2002
Genummerde flessen
Scottish Malt Distillers, Elgin

Distilled at lower alcohol levels to bring out the richness of its flavours,

Linkwood was renowed as a single malt even in Victorian times.

As you savour this lovely 26-year old, note its pale golden colour and

gloriously floral nose, then enjoy the nutty, sweetly creamy palate and

soft-bodied style of a real Speyside gem, with its intense, very long finish.

LINKWOOD

12 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1984
Distilled 9.10.84
Butt No. 4031
Bottled 14.11.96
636 bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

LINKWOOD

22 years old

59,3 %
RARE MALTS SELECTION
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Natural Cask Strenght
Distilled 1972Bottled: 1995
Limited Edition
Genummerde flessen
John McEwan & Co, Edinburgh

LINKWOOD

30 years old

54,9 %

RARE MALTS SELECTION
NATURAL CASK STRENGHT
Distilled 1974
Bottled April 2005
Limited Edition
6000 Numbered Bottles
Scottish Malt Distillers, Elgin

Linkwood 1974.

Distilled at lower alcohol levels to bring out its full richness, Linkwood was renowned as a single malt even in Victorian times.

This amber 30-year-old Speyside opens with toasty, fruity aromas that reveal a sophisticated, smooth, sweetly perfumed gem, with a spicy, nutmeg-dry finish.

From the last ever bottling of The Rare Malts.

LINKWOOD

12 years old

43 %

FLORA & FAUNA
Distilled 1980
Bottled 1992
Linkwood Distillery, Elgin, Moray.

Linkwood distillery stands on the River Lossie, close to Elgin in Speyside. The distillery has retained its traditional atmosphere since its establishment in 1821. Great care has always been taken to safeguard the character of the whisky which has remained the same through the years.

Linkwood is one of the finest Single Malt Scotch Whiskies available, full bodied with a hint of sweetness and a slightly smoky aroma.

LINKWOOD

14 years old

59,8%

YEAR OF DISTILLATION 1983
FLORA & FAUNA
Cask Strenght
Limited Bottling
Bottled 1997
Genummerde flessen
Linkwood Distillery, Elgin, Moray

This yellow-gold Speyside malt has a nose of fresh fruity and floral aromas. Best enjoyed with the addition of water, it has a smooth, even viscous body, with a long clean finish.

LINKWOOD

13 years old

43 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
VINTAGE 1990
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled on 11th June 1990
Bottled on 18th November 2003
Matured in a sherry butt
Butt No. 4809
889 Genummerde flessen
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

LINKWOOD

11 years old

57.7 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Distilled Dec 87
Bottled Sept 99
Society Cask No. code 39.26
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Callard & Bowsers with Cappuccino'

Our tasting notes for this concludes 'until you add water, you could drink this by the half pint'! The distillery it comes from is ranked Top Class and is situated close to Elgin on the river Lossie. During the 1930s its super¬stitious manager refused to have the cobwebs moved in the stillhouse when repairs took place.

The refill American casks has coloured its contents like Sauternes, but with a cirious metallic smokines. The nose is very scented - like ladies parfum -with Callard & Bowser toffee in the background and perhaps a hint of Cappuccino coffee. With water it gains a tropical-fruity note for a moment, so long as you don't add too much water. The mouth-feel is thick and smooth; sweet to start, then with some white pepper. Very easy to drink, but loses a lot if too much -water is added.

LINKWOOD

11 years old

43 %
Dist. date 31-05-88
Bottled 11.97
Cask No. 2765
150 bottles
Usquebach Society, Holland

LINKWOOD

18 years old

52,3 %

ADELPHI DISTILLERY LIMITED
Purveyors of Rare Malt Whiskies
aged in Wood and Bottled
direct from the Cask
Distilled 1987
Cask No. 4495
Bottled 2005
Adelphi Distillery Limited,
Glenborrodale Castle, Ardnamurchan

'Malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to Man' A.E. Houseman

Charles MacLean:

Many blenders would position Linkwood as the 'classic' Speyside malt, and it has long been ranked 'Top Class'. This is drawn from a refill American oak hogshead, which has given the whisky a deep gold colour, shot with bronze.

A mild ose-feel, with only a trace of prickle, allows a deep fruity/nutty aroma to emerge: dry fruit-cake, dates, slightly mouldy oranges and apricots, almonds (rather, dry marzipan), with honey behind.

The whole complex it reminiscent of heavily botrytised wine. With water the fruitiness becomes less intense, but remains, now joined by brown sugar and fresh vinyl (new car fascias). The mouthfeel is pleasantly smooth; the flavour a nice balance -sweetish then dryish, with medium lenght and leaving an attractive aftertaste of almonds.

LINKWOOD

26 years old

44 %
THE SECRET TREASURES
OF SCOTLAND
SINGLE CASK - SINGLE MALT
Speyside Scotch Whisky
Distilled on 14th September 1976
Bottled Feb. 2002
Cask No.   8025
Especially Selected by
A. Rickards, Master Blender
264 Numbered Bottles
Imported by:
S. Fassbind A.G, Oberath
The Moray Malt Whisky Ltd, Edinburgh

LINKWOOD

18 years old

46 %
Speyside Single Malt
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 10/05/90
Matured in a hogshead
Cask no: 3876
Bottled 06/03/09
Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company,
P.O. Box 18, 3800 A A, Amersfoort

LINKWOOD

1 9 9 0

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
19 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT
Distilled: 10/05/90
Matured in a Hoghshead
Cask no: 3875
Bottled: 24/07/09
355 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
The Ultimate Whisky Company, Amersfoort

LINKWOOD

DISTILLED 1 9 7 2
SINGLE SPEYSIDE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Bottled 2006
Proprietors: John McEwan & Co, Ltd
Matured and Bottled by
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

1 9 9 1
Aged 18 years 43 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled on: 16.06.1981
Matured in; Refill Butt
Cask No's 10357 - 58
Bottled on: 12.04.2010
829 Numbered bottles
Natural Colour
Casks individually selected and bottled by
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Pitlochry

LINKWOOD

Aged 18 years

52.90 %
A BLADNOCH FORUM BOTTLE
Dist. 16th September 1991
Hoghshead no. 10346
Bottled 26th May 2010
252 Numbered Bottles
Bladnoch Distillery, Wigtown

LINKWOOD

1 9 9 8
12 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Speyside Single Malt
Distilled: 06/04/98
Matured in a Hoghshead
Cask no: 5120
Bottled: 09/03/11
301 Numbered Bottles
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky

Company, NL

LINKWOOD

1 9 9 3

52.8 %

19 years old

GORDON & MACPAHIL RESERVE

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

From Linkwood Distillery

Distillation date: 14/06/1993

Working with the specialists at

Gordon & Macphail,

Van Wees has selected the cask for

this unique bottling

Exclusively Bottled for Van Wees

Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead

Cask Number: 6817

No. of Bottles: 224

Bottling Month: September 2012

Unchillfiltered

Natural colour

Specially Selected, produced and

Bottled by Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

LINKWOOD

Matured for 8 years

46 %

The Ultimate Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Speyside Single Malt

Distilled: 14/05/08

Matured in a Bourbon Barrel

Cask No: 800076

Bottled: 25/04/17

288 Bottles

Bottle no: 222

Natural Colour

Non Chillfiltration

Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company.N.L.

LINKWOOD

46 %
Matured for 7 years
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Speyside Single Malt
Distilled: 14/05/08
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask no: 800013
Bottled: 19/08/15
222 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered

Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company. NL

LINKWOOD

55.2 %
1 9 8 5
Matured for 27 years
Speyside Single Malt
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
RARE RESERVE
Distilled: 26/11/85
Matured in a Hogshead
Cask no: 4537
Bottled: 20/0913
174 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chill Filtered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company.NL

LINKWOOD
VINTAGE

2 0 0 8
6 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Speyside Single Malt
Distilled: 14/05/08
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask no: 800001
Bottled: 07/05/15
354 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chill Filtered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company.NL

LINKWOOD
Aged 10 years

60.7 %
SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Date Distilled 7th May 2004
Cask Type: Refill Barrel ex Bourbon
Outtturn: One of only 202 Bottles
Society Single Cask: Code: 39.109
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
"Dark sweetness and citric zing"

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease as a Society bottling.

The nose has new leather and paint, then sweet vanilla citrus (lime Mivi ice, sherbet lemons) –

more breakfast – like with water (coffee, brioche, apricot jam). The palate has dark

sweetness (Belgianwaffles, Demerara, caramel), liquorice and peppercorn depth and

lemon and grapefruit zing.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members

are selected, true to our motto: “TO LEAVE NO NOSE UPTURNED “.

Far from simple, the nose suggested new leather shoes, paint and charcuterie to some,

but the main force was sweet vanilla and citrus – lime Mivi ice – lollies ( we just invented

them) , sherbet lemons, pink grapefruit, macaroons and ginger biscuits.

The palate had unexpectedly dark, pungency and sweetness – caramel wafers, Belgian

Waffles, coffee dregs, bran – flakes, cocoa, Demerarra, Fisherman’s Friends and lemon

Lockets.

The reduced nose seemed breakfast – like – coffee, brioche, apricot jam, pinapple, figs

in syrup – but with a lick of linseed and sandalwood.

The palate improved with water – dark honey sweetness, liquorice and peppercorn

depth and lemon grapefruit citric zing – pretty well – balanced.

LINKWOOD
Age 11 years

60 %
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Date Distilled: 7th May 2004
Cask Type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Outturn; One of Only 236 Bottles
Society Single Cask:

Code: 3 9 . 1 1 4
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
Spicy & Sweet
"So many colours in the rainbow"

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease as a Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members

are selected, true to our motto: “TO LEAVE NO NOSE UPTURNED “.

Jelly babies, dolly mixtures, black liquorice shoelaces, strawberry whips and peach

Schnapps gummy bears were followed by flavours of red cherries, chilli and atomic

balls. Water released blue snakes, green sharks and white Sangria with spiced rum i

n the finish.

As soon as we had this sample in the glass we were all in a sweet shop for adults only.

Let’s start with the sweeties: jelly babies, dolly mixtures, black liquorice bootlaces,

strawberry whips and aniseed balls but then we also got chocolate rum truffles, peach

schnapps gummy bears and apricots in brandy. It was all fiery red hpt on the palate

neat: sun shoelaces, cherries, chilli and atomic fireballs.

Water released blue jelly snakes and freen gummy sharks, as well as white Sangria

on the nose and a Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee with a liberal dash of white high –

ester over – proof spiced rum.

LINKWOOD (Linkwood 1 1820; Linkwood 2 1971
Elgin, Morayshire. Licentiehouder: John McEwan & Co, Ltd. Onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. (S.M.D.). De malt divisie van United Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Guinness.

Peter Brown, een invloedrijke boer, stichtte in 1821 Linkwood.
De distilleerderij had twee ketels en produceerde in de jaren 1827 - 1828 2761 liter spirit.
James Walker van James Walker & Co, exploiteerde Linkwood ten behoeve van Peter Brown van 1842 tot aan zijn dood in 1868.
Zijn zoon William Brown volgde hem op en bouwde een kompleet nieuwe en veel grotere distilleerderij op dezelfde plek.
Het ontwerp was van hemzelf, maar met hulp van Mr Methven, architect te Elgin.
William Brown stierf in 1893.
In 1897 werd de Linkwood - Glenlivet Distillery Ltd opgericht.
De whiskyboom had nog een paar jaar te gaan.
De raad van commisarissen bestond uit Gilbert L. Brown, distillateur te Elgin, J.T. Towsend. de stichter van Scapa en R.C. Cameron, juridisch adviseur te Elgin.
De gebouwen werden vergroot en de kapaciteit verdubbeld in 1896 - 1897.
Innes Cameron, whiskymakelaar te Elgin, en partner in Munro & Cameron, eigenaars van Teaninich Distillery, werd lid van het bestuur in 1902 en was beherend vennoot gedurende vele jaren.
Dankzij het conservatieve beleid van Cameron kwam Linkwood ongeschonden door de moeilijke jaren na het instorten van de whiskymarkt na 1899.
Innes Cameron stierf in 1932, 72 jaar oud.

The Linkwood - Glenlivet Distillery Ltd werd opgeheven in 1933 en Linkwood werd gekocht voor E 80.000 door Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd.
Linkwood was gesloten van 1941 - 1945.
Roderick Mackenzie, die al werkte bij Linkwood werd manager.
Hij was een fanatiek aanhanger van de theorie dat alles in en om de distilleerderij van wezenlijk belang was voor het produkt, legendarisch is dat zelfs de spinnenwebben niet mochten worden verwijderd in het ketelhuis.
In 1962 werd Linkwood kompleet herbouwd, nog ander zijn leiding.
In 1971 werd naast Linkwood een tweede distilleerderij gebouwd met vier ketels.
De nieuwe distilleerderij kreeg geen eigen naam maar staat intern bekend als Linkwood B.
Ze zijn beiden nog in bedrijf.

LINKWOOD 1956 UNVEILED BY GORDON & MACPHAIL

March 2018

Independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail has released the second in a series of four ultra-rare single cask single malt whiskies: Private Collection from Linkwood Distillery 1956 by Gordon & MacPhail.

Linkwood 1956 Gordon & MacPhail

Second in line: Linkwood 1956 is number two of a four-part series of rare single malts

Costing £22,000 (UK RRP) each, only 53 decanters of the 60-year-old Speyside single malt are being released, taken from Cask 20, a first-fill Sherry hogshead filled at Linkwood on 3 January 1956.

It is the last 1950s Linkwood cask in Gordon & MacPhail’s large inventory, and is believed to be the last remaining 1950s cask from the distillery left in the world.

Cask 20 was one of the last casks laid down by John Urquhart, first-generation member of the family that still owns Gordon & MacPhail, before he retired the following month.

The whisky is described as mahogany and chestnut brown in colour, and ‘intricately layered’, with ‘highlights of blueberry, fruit cake and dark chocolate’ and a ‘resoundingly rich finish’.

Stephen Rankin, director of prestige at Gordon & MacPhail and fourth-generation member of the Urquhart family, said: ‘This incredible whisky is the culmination of the unrivalled knowledge and skills passed down and strengthened, over the decades, through four generations of my family.

‘It is the deep understanding of the relationship between the oak and the spirit that has allowed Gordon & MacPhail to nurture this cask for six decades while retaining the unique distillery character.’

The 49.4% abv bottling is the second of four single cask whiskies that make up the Private Collection range, following the launch of Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail in October 2017.

All 53 decanters are hand-blown and individually numbered, with a certificate of authenticity signed by Stephen Rankin.

The contours etched into the gold base and stopper of each decanter are designed to echo the landscape surrounding the Linkwood distillery.

A number of decanters are available for purchase at Gordon & MacPhail’s ‘spiritual home’, the shop in South Street, Elgin.

Er zijn plannen om het distillaat van de twee distilleerderijen apart te bottelen.
Het proceswater komt van bronnen bij Milbuies Loch, het koelwater van de Linkwood Burn.
In 1962 - 1963 werd Linkwood aangesloten op het electriciteitsnet.
De meeste van de single malt whiskies van Linkwood gaat in de blends Abbot's Choice en Chequers.
Linkwood had altijd veel sherry un geur en smaak, maar te beginnen met de Linkwood uit de serie 'Flora & Fauna', is de sherry minder nadrukkelijk aanwezig.
De twee ketels van Linkwood A en de vier ketels van Linkwood B kunnen 2,5 miljoen liter spirit produceren per jaar.
Op 12 Mei 1997 wordt de fusie aangekondigd tussen Guinness en Grand Metropolitan. Op 22 Oktober 1997 wordt bekend gemaakt dat de naam van de gefuseerden Diageo wordt.
Het water voor Linkwood komt van Millbuies Springs De Mash tun is 12 ton.
In Linkwood A staan één Wash still van 17000 liter en één Spirit still van 15000 liter en vijf Wash backs van elk 30.000 liter.
In Linkwood B staan twee ketels met dezelfde inhoud, maar de vijf Wash backs zijn elk 60.000 liter.

"Society in Elgin", Anderson's Guide to the Highlands reported in 1834, "comprehends an unusual proportion of persons in easy or affluent circumstances". These certainly included the Browns of Linkwood. They had earned their position by professional skill and unremitting public service. George Brown came to the house of Linkwood as factor of the Earl of Findlater's Morayshire estates in 1788. He surveyed almost all the roads built by Telford in the Highlands and served six times as Provost of Elgin. One of his sons, General Sir George Brown, commanded the Light Division in theCrimean War. Another, Peter Brown of Linkwood, factor of the Seafield estates in Moray and Banffshire, was one of the foremost agricultural improvers in the northern counties, and a man of much influence and forceful character.
Peter Brown built Linkwood Distillery in 1821. It may conceivably have drawn some or all of its barley from the Linkwood estate, and would almost certainly have provided distillery waste to fatten the farm animals. According to Customs & Excise records, it produced 1,064 gallons (2,761 litres) from two stills in 1827-28.
James Walker, then James Walker & Co., worked the distillery from 1842 until Peter Brown died in 1868. His son William Brown succeeded him in the tenancy of the Linkwood estate, but gave it up after a few years. He took charge of Linkwood Distillery, pulled it down in 1872-73 and erected "spacious new premises". The original design was his own, "put into shape and carried out by Mr. Methven, architect, Elgin", according to the Elgin Courant for 10 April 1874. It reported that "nothing has been left undone ... that could add to the convenience, durability, or appearance of the establishment... The manufacture of spirits has now been going on for a considerable time, and we are glad to say that the aqua produced is quite equal in flavour, and in every other respect, to that which attained the celebrity of Linkwood whisky as produced by the older and very much smaller work now superseded".
William Brown died in 1893, aged 67, at Dunkinty House, which adjoined the distillery. Four years later, almost at the peak of a speculative boom in malt whisky distilling, the business was floated as Linkwood-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd., a limited liability company. The directors were Gilbert L. Brown, distiller, of Elgin; J. T. Townsend, of Scapa Distillery, Orkney, and Glasgow; and R. C. Cameron, solicitor, bank agent, and land agent, of Elgin. The premises were extended, and productive capacity doubled, in 1896-97. Linkwood whisky, hitherto little known outside the district, where it had always been a great favourite, now began to fetch a good price in the markets of the south.

Innes Cameron, whisky broker of Elgin, and a partner in Munro & Cameron, owners of Teaninich Distillery, Alness, joined the board in 1902 and was managing director for many years. When he died in 1932, aged 72, he was the largest shareholder. It was consequently decided to sell the distillery and to wind up the company. ScottishMalt Distillers Ltd. bought Linkwood in 1933 for £0. J.B. Wylie, SMD's company secretary, noted that Cameron had pursued "a conservative policy in building up reserves. In 1922, for example, when many other companies were in financial difficulty, Linkwood had more than enough working capital; so the preference share capital was reduced by a repayment of £5 per share. Two years later, the balance was paid off by the same means. The great success that the enterprise enjoyed was largely due to Innes Cameron's knowledge of business and especially of the whisky trade."
Linkwood Distillery closed from 1941 to 1945, on account of war-time restrictions on the use of barley by distillers. When it reopened, the employee appointed to be manager was Roderick Mackenzie. For the next eighteen years he supervised the production of Linkwood's make with unremitting vigilance. He believed that the character of a malt whisky depended, among other factors, on a complex relationship not just of the vessels in which it is made, but of everything in the immediate environment. In 1962, when SMDdecided that the condition of the old buildings and the cramped lay-out of the plant made complete rebuilding necessary, the paramount consideration, as in the 1873 rebuilding programme, was safeguarding the character of the make. The new stills, according to SMD custom, were exact replicas of those replaced. Mackenzie was immediately responsible for fitting the innovations into the framework of established practice. He started up the new distillery just before his retirement date in 1963.
An additional distillery, commissioned to meet the forecast demand by blending companies in the DCL Group for Linkwood malt whisky, was completed in 1971, with four stills, steam-heated from an oil-fired boiler. The two stills in the older distillery were converted at this time to steam-heating.
Linkwood today is a complex of modern distillery buildings and old warehouses. It still has an air, proper to Highland malt distilleries, of having been there for a long time. The trees that shelter it from the north wind and screen it from Dunkinty House are the successors of those planted and maintained by George and Peter Brown. The description of the dam as "an exceedingly pretty sheet of water" is still appropriate. Swans drift on the surface with disdainful ease; but, like the dam, they are there for a practical purpose. The original pair was brought here from Gordon Castle, long ago, to keep down the weeds.

The dam holds cooling water from the Burn of Linkwood. Other cooling water is piped from the Burn of Bogs and process water comes from springs near Milbuies Loch. A steam engine, supplemented by a water wheel, drove all the machinery until replaced by electric power in 1962-63.
Today Linkwood is still owned by Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd., of Elgin, a subsidiary of The Distillers Company Limited, of Edinburgh. SMD is responsible for the production and ware-housing of malt whiskies for companies within the DCL Group, and operates 45 malt whisky distilleries, associated makings, and bonded warehouses, throughout Scotland.
The licensed distillers are John McEwan & Co. Ltd., Leith, blenders of The Abbot's Choice and of Chequers De Luxe Scotch whiskies. They bottle Linkwood as a single malt whisky.

THE RARE MALTS SELECTION
The Rare Malts Selection, now drawing to a close after ten years, has always been made from remarkable cask-strenght single malt Scotch whiskies; among the rarest, most precious stocks to survive in Scotland.
Looked after undisturbed by careful hands since birth, each has been nurtured to perfection, then selected on merit by a distinguished panel of experts.
Often twenty or more years of age, many Rare Malts have been so rare that they will never be seen again.
Connoisseurs have appreciated their full rich colour and enjoyed their true depth of flavour, thanks to unfiltered cask-strenght bottling.
Nosing them has been an act of reverence to enjoy in itself. When tasting, it has always been advised that the correct dilution for a cask-strenght Rare Malt should be two parts water to one of whisky.
Each individually numbered bottle has revealed a most intriguing character, its individuality emphasised by a quirk peculiar to natural cask strenght bottlings.
So small has been each bottling run that every Rare Malt, drawn from casks, which naturally differ, has had its own unique strenght.
The Rare Malts Selection: each unique to taste, give, collect and now, to remember with affection.

THE LAST RARE MALTS SELECTION
The Rare Malts have always been, by definition, rare. They have never been on widespread sale. Available only in selected outlets, each has been released as a strictly limited edition of individually numbered bottles.
As with fine vintage wine, the supply of Rare Malts has been restricted by availability.
Once each was exhausted, its place in the Selection was taken by an equally rare bottling of a similarly fine old single malt.
And now, the stocks from which the Rare Malts were drawn are almost exhausted, the very last selection has been made.
It is limited to no more than 6000 bottles of each make, and is additionally distinguished by coming in part from closed distilleries.
The last of the last. Truly, these are The Rare Malts.

October 2005
Diageo has announced that its 2005 Annual Rare Malts Selection will be the last.
The collection will consist of four cask strenght single malts from closed distilleries; Glen Mhor 28 years old, Millburn 35 years old, Glendullan 26 years old and Linkwood 30 years old.
Dr. Nicholas Morgan, global malts marketing director commented: 'As the Special Releases are now well established, it makes less sence to continue selecting and promoting a parallel series of Rare Malts with his own separate indentity'.
In future, all premium and rare whiskies will be made available in the annual Special Releases series

April 2013
Diageo has named Teaninich near Alness as the location for its plans to build a new 50 million pound new malt whisky distillery and will be adjacent the existing Teaninich distillery
but will have its own name and indentity and will have the capacity to produce 13 million
litres of spirit p[er annum from its 16 stills.

Diageo also invest 12 million pound in expanding the Teaninich distillery to almost doubless capacity.

The site will also feature a bio-energy plant.

The work will begin in 2014.

Diageo also will invest in Mortlach distillery in building a new still house and an other invest-
ment will be at Glendullan distillery to process co products in an anaerobic digestion process, producing bio - gas which will be used to power the Glendullan distillery.

There are also expansion and upgrade developments for more then 40 million pound in
Linkwood, Mannochmore, Glendullan, Dailuaine, Benrinnes, Inchgower, Cragganmore,
Glen Elgin, Glen Ord and in a new bio - energie plants in Glenlossie and Dailuaine.

Also new warehouse are build at Cluny near Kirkcaldy.

And at Talisker a new visitor centre is build for a 1 million pound.

When mature, however, although Linkwood's freshness is retained the palate reveals a thick texture which slows the whisky down in the mouth. It is this combination of texture and delicacy which makes it prized by blenders – and much loved by malt whisky aficionados. The fragrance is achieved by creating very clear wort, having a very long fermentation and distilling (slowly to maximise copper conversation) in pairs of stills in which the spirit is larger than the wash, allowing even more copper contact.

Located on the outskirts of Elgin (though now within its ever-growing suburbs) Linkwood was established in 1821, but only started production in 1824. Owner Peter Brown was the factor [manager] of the Linkwood Estate and wisely kept his nose clean until the 1823 Excise Act was on the stature book.

It was completely rebuilt in 1874 by his son William and existed as an independent distiller, run by an Elgin-based whisky broker, until 1932 when it joined the DCL stable. It has remained in production ever since, with regular upgrades taking place, most significantly in 1972 when a new distillery was built opposite the old buildings.

Both plants ran until 1985 when the original ceased production, although it was still used as an experimental site – it was here that a lot of Diageo’s research into copper, reflux and the effect of worm tubs took place. In the late 1990s it was on the shortlist to become the Speyside representative in The Classic Malts range.

In 2012, the old building was demolished as part of yet another upgrade. This time six new washbacks were installed in a new distillery along with two new stills. Capacity is now in excess of 5.5m litres per annum.

Linkwood is bottled as a 12-year-old in Diageo’s Flora & Fauna range, and for many years quasi-official bottlings have come from Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin – often from ex-Sherry casks. Other independent bottlings appear fairly regularly.

1821

Peter Brown founds Linkwood, but

doesn't begin distilling until three

years later

1868

Peter dies and his son, William,

inherits the distillery

1874

Linkwood is demolished and

completely rebuilt

1897

Linkwood Glenlivet Distillery Company

is established to control the distillery's

operation

1932

Scottish Malt Distillers assumes control

of Linkwood

1968

The maltings are closed

1972

A second distillery with four stills is

built opposite Linkwood's old buildings

1985

The original Linkwood distillery ceases

production

2008

Three Linkwood 26-year-old wood

finishes are released

2009

A Manager's Choice 1996 released

2012

A distillery upgrade sees six new

washbacks installed with two new stills;

the old buildings are demolished

2016

A 37 year old released

2020

Capacity: 5.600.000 Ltrs

Changes from time tot time

2021

A 39 years old released in the

Prima & Ultima Series

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

75hrs

FILLING STRENGTH i

63.5%

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

12.5

HEAT SOURCE i

Steam

MALT SPECIFICATION i

Non peated

MALT SUPPLIER i

Mainly in house

MASH TUN TYPE i

Lauter

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

Non peaty

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

65-68%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

15,800

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Plain

STILLS i

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

14,500

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Plain

WASHBACK TYPE i

Wood

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Millbuies Spring

WORT CLARITY i

Clear

YEAST TYPE i

Creamed

Diageo

1997 - present

United Distillers

1986 - 1997

Distillers Company Limited

1936 - 1986

Scottish Malt Distillers

1932 - 1936

Linkwood-Glenlivet Distillery Co

1897 - 1932

William Brown

1868 - 1987

Peter Brown

1821 - 1868