Linlithgow is just another name for the Lowlands distillery St. Magdalene - the name of the village where the distillery is located.

This 26 year-old expression was distilled in October 1982 and bottled in June 2009. It was matured in a wine treated butt (see this Ardmore 1990 review for more information). A sister cask #2201 was bottled in 2008 for La Maison du Whisky in France.

Linlithgow 26 yo 1982 (61,2%,
Signatory Vintage 2009, wine treated
cask #2200, 225 btl.)

Nose: expressive and quite fresh. Quite fruity at first (white peach, lemon, apples) and then showing more uncommon notes like straw, a little soot, paper and Schweppes tonic. Enough sweetness to make sure it’s not too unsexy. Lovely waxy notes as well. Uncommon but very good. Mouth: oily delivery, high strength of course. Again a fruitiness that comes and goes (this time pear and pineapple candy), some honey as well. Adding water makes it even more candied. Sugared lemon juice. Overall a little mono-dimensional. Finish: medium length, with yellow apple and lemon.

A very enjoyable and uncommon dram, yet a little narrow. No wine influence at all if you ask me. A little expensive, but you’re buying rare whisky of course: around € 155.

Score: 86/100

ps/ Does anyone know why some are called Linlithgow and others St. Magdalene, even when from the same year and bottler? There doesn’t seem to be a logical explanation.