For me, part of the magic of whisky rests in the memories it can conjure; its ability to transport us to a vivid moment in time through a single sip. This warm and spicy Linkwood 13 year old holds such a magic for me.
In December 2023, after a very busy Christmas period, my parents, sister and I retreated for some peace and quiet at our family home in the Scottish Highlands. Our plans to relax in front of the TV were abandoned when 'Storm Gerrit' hit the area and wiped out power for over 20,000 homes.
With no heating, electricity or phone signal, our only option was to huddle around the fire and entertain ourselves by playing cards and board games by candlelight. Seeking a little more heat, we reached for the whisky cabinet and were lucky enough to find a sample of this wonderful sherry-seasoned Linkwood.
A succulent mouthful of dried fruits and spice, its deep-spreading warmth was made all the more potent by the cold and dark around us, while its underlying salted caramel sweetness brightened everyone's mood. It is a perfect winter warmer, best served with loved ones... and a dash of thunderstorm.
Story
Finn Thomson is a Scotch whisky independent bottler that is 300 years in the making. Since James Thomsons illicit potstill in the 1700s, the Thomson family has pursued a different element of whisky through the ages – distilling, blending, trading, selling – helping to shape the very story of Scotch itself.
With three centuries of family whisky history and personal tutelage from some of the most respected names in the Scottish whisky industry, Finn may stand on the shoulders of giants. But the weight of decision rests on his own.
Finn is responsible for calling the moment when a whisky’s flavours are at their finest; quirks and eccentricities at their most beguiling. Whether it’s a decades-old cask from the family collection or an entirely new creation, this is art as much as science. Wood, water and weather have had their say. The only guides that count now are taste, scent and intuition.