Flora and Fauna Linkwood 12 Year Old

Flora & Fauna began as a quiet experiment. In 1991, United Distillers — now Diageo — started bottling single malts from distilleries that had never been seen outside a blend. Whisky writer Michael Jackson named the collection after the wildlife and plant illustrations on the labels, a name Diageo never made official but could never shake either. Fast forward to today and only 11 expressions remain on shelves. Unsurprisingly, collectors and connoisseurs are paying close attention.

Founded in 1821 in Elgin, the heart of northern Speyside, Linkwood is something of an unsung hero — beloved by independent bottlers and blenders alike, yet rarely seen as a distillery bottling. With only 2% of its output sold as single malt, the remainder flowing quietly into Diageo blends such as Bell's, White Horse and Haig, the 12 Year Old Flora & Fauna added in 1991 is virtually the only way to experience it. One of the most popular expressions in the collection, it showcases the gentler, grassier side of Speyside: a softly fresh and elegantly balanced dram with notes of lemon, apple, heather honey and a medium finish of soft fruit and warm spice.