Linkwood distillery in Speyside is one of those well-known names that no one seems to harbour too much of an opinion about. Linkwood's clean, accessible Speyside single malt whisky has been available for decades, thanks largely to Gordon & MacPhail, but the distillery has had little official promotion or recognition outside owner Diageo's Flora & Fauna series. 

The wide variety of independent bottlings of Linkwood's whisky show it to be a generally very good, rarely substandard and occasionally phenomenal Speyside single malt, while its ability to age well over long periods in both sherry and bourbon casks means that it remains a fascinating whisky. If you have the time and inclination to delve into its bottled history, there are some stunning examples out there to be found and cherished.

The style of Linkwood in recent decades is one of rich spice, floral notes and accompanying complexities of light fruits, honey, pears, vanilla, cream, stewed fruits and light chocolate notes. These characteristics are magnified with age and can come across with more sweetness, citrus fruit, resinous qualities and, in the best examples, a very nice balance between clean oak and softer garden fruits.