Deer, Bear, and Moose Linkwood 1992 single Malt Whisky
Confession: I didn’t think about getting a “birthday bottle” - nor had I even heard of one - until a few years after I started my whiskey journey. Flaviar - which uses Deer, Bear, and Moose as their private bottling brand - lit my whiskey fire simply because I could get samples, tasting boxes, and a huge cache of community reviews from fellow members. So, when they announced a 1992 bottle, how could I NOT jump at the chance for this! Everything fell into place - a 1992 distillation, 27 years old in 2019 - this was a special occasion bottle I couldn’t wait to open.
Granted, a few years later, I’m not looking for tasting boxes anymore. I’ve got samples and bottles to open for years to come. But this bottle remains unfinished. I keep it as something special to open when I want a bright, fruity, cask strength Speysider. And over the past while, I’ve grown to appreciate independent bottlers more so than I could have in the past.
Flaviar has…to put it bluntly…decreased in quality. The tasting boxes I used to order from them were truly eye-opening, mixing well-known brands with newer ones needing attention. You wanted to try scotch? Speyside-only? Smoky Islay? Bourbon? Small batch? Rye? Beer-barrel-finished? There was something for everyone, on a rotating basis. The new ones are filled with the brands of any other, common and uninspired. It’s a shame, because it does a disservice to Deer, Bear, & Moose, their private bottling line. This alone has remained unique and special, and I still anticipate every bottle’s lottery with glee.
Deer, Bear, and Moose Linkwood 1992 single Malt Whisky: Specs
Classification: Speyside Single Malt Whiskey
Origin: Linkwood Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Proof: 105.6 (52.8% ABV)
Age: 27 Years Old
Bottle: 183, Cask: #14865
Location: Speyside, Scotland
Deer, Bear, and Moose Linkwood 1992 single Malt Whisky Price: N/A
Deer, Bear, and Moose Linkwood 1992 single Malt Whisky Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Very light, typical Highland color though I would have still expected it to be a bit darker given the age. Medium rim in a Glencairn.
Nose: Grape sweetness wafts out of the glass before the swish, intensifying after that. Light malt notes, a quintessential Highland/Speyside character without much heat. Tart apples and honey develop with a little air.
Palate: A bit of heat up front flows quite nicely into a white wine-like acidity. Bright malty acid that is refreshing. This drinks far below its proof and is one of the easiest sippers I’ve had. Mouthfeel is oily and viscous but not mouth filling.
Finish: Acidic and refreshing with apple and white/green grapes.
Overall: Imagine the best Highland Park minus the peat. For something over 50%, this is bright and acidic with little heat past the initial sip. A great summertime whisky that could be mistaken for a bold white wine with a little water.
Final Rating: 7.4
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Label Batch 4 or 2, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Stagg Jr. Batch 10, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
More Linkwood Reviews
