Linkwood Whisky
| Most people have tasted Linkwood without knowing it – the distillery supplies a large share of its malt to blends like Johnnie Walker. But behind the scenes hides a Speyside whisky well worth meeting on its own. |
About Linkwood
Linkwood sits near Elgin in the heart of Speyside and draws its water from springs at Millbuies Loch. Right next to the distillery lies a large, scenic reservoir home to local wildlife, including swans, which grace the label of the 12-year-old bottling. Most of what Linkwood distils ends up in blends, particularly Johnnie Walker, making the distillery one of Speyside's more anonymous heroes. For collectors, it's precisely that low profile that makes the rare single malt releases interesting, while beginners will find a light, floral Speyside style that's easy to fall for.
History & background
The distillery was founded in 1821 by Peter Brown and rebuilt half a century later, after William Brown inherited the site in 1868. Today Linkwood is owned by beverage giant Diageo, which took control after Scottish Malt Distillers acquired the distillery in 1933 and later became part of the major merger that formed Diageo. Linkwood has two distillery houses – Linkwood A, currently out of use but still home to the two original stills, and Linkwood B, where four further stills now handle production.
Production & style
With a capacity of 2.24 million litres a year, Linkwood is one of Speyside's more productive distilleries, though most of its output disappears into blends rather than becoming standalone releases. Thanks to Diageo's special releases, more single malt bottlings have reached the market in recent years, including a series of 26-year-old expressions from 2008 that spent their final 14 years maturing in rum, red wine or port casks.
Signature style
Light, floral, elegant
Fresh fruit and a light honey sweetness with a floral edge – a classic, understated Speyside style that rarely shouts, but always convinces.
Facts
| Distillery | Linkwood Distillery |
| Founded | 1821 |
| Pronounced | "Link-wood" |
| Region | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland |
| Owner | Diageo |
| Capacity | 2.24 million litres/year |
| Water source | Millbuies Loch |
| Peat | Unpeated |
Did you know?
Linkwood A, the older of the distillery's two stillhouses, still stands with its original stills intact even though it's no longer in production – a kind of time capsule inside a fully working distillery.
If you like Linkwood, you should also try:
Glenlivet Whisky, GlenAllachie Whisky og Glenfarclas Whisky.