Linkwood – 1990/2024 33 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon & MacPhail (70cl, 49.1%)

This Linkwood was distilled in 1990 and matured for 33 years in a first-fill sherry butt. Gordon & MacPhail bottled it from a single cask on 9 April 2024 for its Connoisseurs Choice range, at a cask strength of 49.1% in a 70cl bottle. It is non-chill-filtered, with no added colour, and the cask gave 379 bottles. Dark sherry fruit and chocolate lead, with sour cherry and orange adding fruitier notes. The nose combines strong sherry with stewed sultanas, dried figs, clove and citrus peel. On the palate black pepper gives way to sour cherry, orange and dark chocolate, followed by dried tobacco and toasted oak. The finish is full, with liquorice and oak.