Linlithgow 1982 SS Sestante (Silver Seal)

This Linlithgow was from the independent bottler Silver Seal matured to 23 year old from 1982 and bottled at 61.5%. The outturn was 257 bottles. The lost Lowland distillery Linlithgow, built in 1753 in West Lothian's county town, was brought to a halt in 1983. Run by the Dawson family through the 19th century, it passed to DCL in 1912.

The spirit was made in floor malted, coal fired pot stills in the old way, for an elegant, waxy make quite its own. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the wax. Around two decades the oily spirit deepens, grass and white fruit knitting with the oak. Time in the cask deepens the oily spirit into tropical fruit and beeswax. Run by the Dawson family for much of the 19th century, it passed to DCL in 1912. Tasters often liken its waxy, mineral edge to a fine Riesling. Floor maltings worked on site until 1968, the spirit run from five coal fired stills.

At a full 61.5% it is intense yet elegant. Vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under a waxy, grassy depth with white fruit. It is waxy and deep, the fruit and oil woven in. A gently oily finish lingers warm. This is prized closed era stock from a true individual of Scotch.