Linkwood 1991 20 YO The Octave vs Linkwood 1997 17 YO A. D. Rattray

Linkwood 1991 20 YO The Octave 56,5 % vs Linkwood 1997 17 YO A. D. Rattray 50,9 %

Box Whisky Festival 2015 could offer other exciting whiskies beside the distillery's own bottlings. I got the chance to compare two Linkwood.

The first one was a 20 YO from the independent bottler Duncan Taylor released in their bottling series The Octave. The whisky was distilled 1991 and bottled 2002. Cask number #762986. There was a total outturn of 66 bottles.

The second Linkwood was a 17 YO from the independent bottler A. D. Rattray. The whisky was distilled 23 June 1997, then matured in bourbon hogshead before given a sherry cask finish, and then bottled 19 January 2015 into 281 bottles. Cask number #7179.

Both whiskies are available in Sweden. Linkwood 1991 20 YO The Octave at SEK 1323 (item number 85756) and Linkwood 1997 17 YO A. D. Rattray at SEK 1098 (item number 85477). They are not available in Norway.

Linkwood 1991 20 YO The Octave

Nose (21/25): Banana, oak and grapes. Warm on the nose.

Taste (22/25): Oak, baked apples, cinnamon and peaches. The sherry notes was very obvious on the palate.

Finish (21/25): A warm and fruity finish. Still oak, grapes and peaches.

Balance (22/25): A well balanced whisky where the sherry finish was well integrated with the bourbon notes.

Score (86/100)

Linkwood 1997 17 YO A.D. Rattray

Nose (23/25): Cold and fresh with lemon peel, tarragon and some oak. Rich.

Taste (23/25): A really rich and complex whisky on the palate. Pineapples, pears and white pepper.

Finish (23/25): Mint and eucalyptus in the end. Very fresh. Strawberries and Prosecco as well.

Balance (23/25): Such a nice whisky! No doubt which one won this battle.

Score (92/100)

- Tone