Linkwood distillery in the Speyside town of Elgin, Morayshire was founded in 1821 by Peter Brown, but production didn't commence until 1825.

His Son William took over in 1868 upon Peter's death, but he demolished it in 1872, rebuilt the distillery and reopened it in 1874.

The Linkwood-Glenlivet Distillery Co. took it over from the Brown family in 1897.

SMD took over Linkwood in 1933 and then undertook a major renovation of the distillery in 1962.

1971 saw Linkwood extended by the construction of a second distillery right alongside the older one and it was larger too, with four stills instead of two.

This older (original) Linkwood distillery was closed in 1985 but reopened again in 1990 and was henceforth operational for just a few months each year.

The older Linkwood still exists, but it is unclear whether distillation takes place there today, or whether only the washbacks are in use.

Of course after various mergers and takeovers SMD became part of Diageo whose "UDV" arm run Linkwood today.

More great distillery info here, thanks to Malt Madness

My thanks to Teun van Wel for permission to copy & use the distillery photos

General whisky characteristics: Fresh, fruity and often floral

Cadenhead, Linkwood-Glenlivet, distilled 1979, bottled 1994, 15y

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Nose: Dark fruits with a young freshness

Palate: Spicy raisins and currants

With 3 drops of water: The raisins and currants are still there, but it is overall a much smoother experience.

Another 3 drops of  water: Very smooth and very long.

Overall Impression: What a wonderful older bottling from Cadenhead!

G&M, Linkwood, 1991-2006, 52.5% abv

2nd Fill Sherry Butt No. 5523

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€ to €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Oak - rich gold

Nose: Red! This has lots of (red) berries and fruit followed closely by wood and slightly perfumed copper (yes, really).

Palate: Toffee-flavoured ice cream with a light caramel sauce. There's also some slightly spicy wood and it tends towards being a little sweet too.

Finish: Long with hints of caramel and ginger.

Overall Impression: A succinct and maybe slightly strange review with my "red" & "perfumed copper" comments, but this is indeed an excellent Linkwood which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Whisky Agency, Linkwood, 27y, 1984-2011, 53.2% abv

Liquid Sun series, one of 108 bottles

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Shiny oak

Nose: This begins with a light summer fruitiness, then after 5-6 minutes it develops an almost antiseptic freshness in the background. It's also lightly floral with creamy vanilla, but always light and subdued.

Palate: An immediate burst of peppery fruit and nuts announce the palate not to be as subdued as the nose. Oh I love that fruitiness - creamy peach and papaya? Cantaloupe melon? and always that nuttiness.

Finish: Very long and fruity.

Overall Impression: A light and subdued nose explode into a marvellously fruity palate. I love it! Almost a "Great", just not quite.

Signatory, Linkwood, 21y, 3.5.1989-17.1.2011, 61.7% abv

Sherry Butt, Cask No.3207, one of 303 bottles

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich deep bronze.

Nose: Aromas of oak, spring flora and cardamom seeds positively engulf the nose. It's rich, deep and very forthcoming.

Palate: This is big on vanilla, also wood, hazelnut, cherries and a light dustiness, or is it mustiness? There's lots happening here and all nicely harmonised.

Finish: Very long and even changeable. Unbelievably there's a light smokiness right at the end which reminds me of a bacon butty (It's a Yorkshire thing!)

Overall Impression: A "Great" whisky joins my hall of fame.

Wilson & Morgan, Linkwood, 20y, 1991-2011, 56.3% abv

Butt No.6453

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich dark cork

Nose: Did someone just repaint the still house? I detect fresh drying paint, vanilla, hints of very slightly cheesy rubberiness and a suggestion of toffee or fudge.

Palate: A wonderfully creamy and smooth mouth-feel offers vanilla and that light toffee or fudge.

Finish: Long, tingly, peppery.

Overall Impression: Very big in a quite subdued way, if you understand that. Anyway, a wonderful whisky.

The First Editions, Linkwood, 24y, 51.2% abv

Cask Ref. ES 011/01, distilled 1987, bottled 2012

Original cost of this bottle; Unknown

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Very pale, almond, almost like water.

Nose: Very fresh with a mildly musty vanilla-ness.

Palate: Intense vanilla with a creamy-mouth-feel and a hint of coconut right at the end.

Finish: Extremely long and intense with some coconut hints.

Overall Impression: Love the coconut.

Linkwood, 30.10.1997 - 8.2013, 45% abv

G&M for LMDW

Refill Sherry Hogshead No.10811

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Dark amber

Nose: Lots of dark fruitiness suggesting currants, raisins and even plum wine. There's also a mild background smokiness like the embers of a wood fire. Is that also a hint of dark chocolate?

Palate: Definitely a suggestion of plum wine and that dark chocolate, but also a hint of (oil of) orange as it leads into the finish.

Finish: Long with that (oil of) orange.

Overall Impression: Rich and dark, but this is from my famous dregs and almost the last of this bottle from 2013. It isn't bad, far from it, but I get the sense it has oxidised a little and is two or three points less than when first opened. But it's still good.