LINKWOOD 1995 Aged 30 Years ARTIST #15 The Dark Side Of The Moon

Created in 2011, ARTIST by La Maison du Whisky is LMDW’s flagship series dedicated to remarkable single casks selected for their expressive, terroir-driven character, paired with contemporary artworks chosen to mirror or contrast the whisky’s identity. Over the years, ARTIST has evolved into a true gallery in bottle form: an annual expression of style, ageing, culture and aesthetics.

ARTIST #15, the fifteenth edition of this emblematic range and released under the Itinéraires catalogue, is divided into two thematic chapters: Something in the Water, inspired by the magic of Islay and paying tribute to the island’s historic distilleries; and The Dark Side of the Moon, which explores the world of sherry cask maturation from Oloroso to Pedro Ximénez.

This Linkwood 1996 Aged 30 Years is part of the ARTIST #15 The Dark Side of the Moon chapter and showcases the distillery’s delicate, orchard-fruited distillate through the lens of long, patient sherry maturation. Marked by refined contrasts, a deeply malty backbone and an Andalusian warmth, it presents Linkwood with a richness and amplitude that remain impeccably elegant, a harmony of finesse, maturity and expressive sherry influence.

Founded in 1821, Linkwood began distilling in 1825 and remained under the Brown family’s stewardship until the late 19th century, when a fire destroyed the original site and led to its reconstruction in 1872. In 1933, the distillery joined Scottish Malt Distillers, later becoming an essential component in blends such as Johnnie Walker, White Horse, Haig and Bell’s. While official single malts remained rare for much of the 20th century, the distillery’s reputation grew through independent bottlings, particularly those aged in sherry casks, released by Signatory Vintage and Gordon & MacPhail.

Linkwood expanded significantly over the decades, doubling capacity in 1971 and adding two more stills in 2013. Its spirit, often described by blenders as “green and grassy” is prized for its freshness, precision and purity. In this 30 year old single cask, those hallmarks meet the depth and resonance of long sherry ageing, offering a portrait of Linkwood that is both true to its nature and elevated by ARTIST #15’s sherry-driven theme.