Adelphi St Kilian 6yo (2017) Cask #5161 & Adelphi Linkwood 16yo (2009) Cask #552912

Adelphi St Kilian 6yo (2017) Cask #5161

Region: Germany

ABV: 59.7%

Price: £72.99

Distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2026 after 6 years of maturation, this unpeated German single malt from St Kilian was fully matured in a Moscatel butt. Outturn of 694 bottles.

Nose

Initially we’re getting milk chocolate, oatcakes, chives and apricots. Going back after some air and there’s also orange juice, cardamom, rice crackers and honey. The alcohol is well integrated showing as a hint of pepper spice.

Palate

It’s got a very syrupy mouthfeel, it's very mouth coating. The palate opens with notes of green grapes, peach iced tea, burnt brown sugar, barley sugars and sultanas. There’s also something here that reminds us of drinking a hot toddy. Gentle spice joins the sweeter notes on the medium length finish.

Nose (with water)

Water hasn’t wildly changed the nose, but we’re now getting an almost sherry like prune or raisin note. The alcohol spice is also a touch more noticeable. In fact, as we sit with it, we notice more sherry notes such as burnt brown sugar and toffee.

Palate (with water)

The mouthfeel has taken a slight hit with reduction. Much like the nose, we’re getting more notes we’d traditionally associate with sherry, such as prune juice, toffee and raisins. Honeycomb joins a touch more spice on the still medium length finish.

Conclusion

Personally, we wouldn’t add water to this. It’s a much more interesting dram neat. The spirit and the cask have created quite the mix of flavours and aromas. We’re not sure they’ll sit in everyone’s wheelhouse, but what we can say for sure is that this is technically good whisky.

Score: 7/10

Value

There’s not a lot of whisky from the distillery available in the UK, but the price here appears to be in line with other independent bottlers.

Adelphi Linkwood 16yo (2009) Cask #552912

Region: Speyside

ABV: 53.1%

Price: £89.95

Distilled on the 1st January 2009 and bottled in 2026 after 16 years of maturation, this Adelphi Selection Linkwood was fully matured in a Oloroso sherry hogshead. Outturn of 202 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with toffee, orange peel, potpourri, hay and lime Chewits. Going back, there’s lemonade, milk chocolate, fudge and caramel. The alcohol is well integrated. It’s a pleasant nose, but if you’re interested in this, you should be aware it’s not a sherry bomb.

Palate

The palate opens with a little too much upfront spice, mixed with cream pastries, lime juice and Terry’s Chocolate Orange. The sweetness lingers into the medium length finish, but that peppery spice really intensifies as the dram sits on our tongues, along with a note of musk. The mouthfeel is good and has a touch of weight to it.

Nose (with water)

Water has brought out notes reminiscent of a dusty cupboard, dried wood and pencil shavings. There’s now less citrus, and the sweetness has retreated into the background. Patience brings out a touch of treacle.

Palate (with water)

With dilution, that upfront spice disappears, but it still returns on the finish. Plenty of upfront icing sugar and chocolate sweetness replace the more interesting pre-dilution notes. The mouthfeel has suffered, and the finish remains medium in length.

Conclusion

On the plus side, there’s a lot of great aromas and flavours here, and the dram manages to avoid the pitfall of being a one-dimensional sherry bomb. Unfortunately, it’s a touch too spicy in places, dragging down the score.

Score: 7/10

Value

The decent age and full maturation make the price seem pretty good.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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