Linie Madeira Casks

Aquavit tasting, 17 December 2022, aquavit #1 Nose: Orange water, vanilla and caramel, sweet stone fruits, baking spices. Palate: A soft arrival with vanilla, toffee and somewhat shy stewed red fruit notes. Mild herbal and baking spice notes in the development, with liquorice, caraway, green anise, dill weed and faint mixed spices. The mouthfeel is creamy and full. Finish: Medium/short. Fruity and slightly briny. There is a furtive smoky oak flavour in the aftertaste. This is one of two finished versions of Linie. The standard expression receives a 16 month maturation in ex-sherry casks, the first 4 months being at sea. The finished versions then receive an extra 12 months in either port casks, or as in this case, madeira casks. It’s a very easy drinking aquavit with a soft and accommodating profile. The character of the standard expression is still clear but this one has a little more complexity, a more “melded” character and is well balanced. It’s easy to see how this brand is so popular, but I did find myself wishing it had just a fraction more edge. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)