Ledaig 18 - 2019 - 46,3%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
Just a few years ago one could get a Ledaig from Tobermory Distillery easily and for a reasonable price. Since then the popularity continuously rose in such a way that it's even hard to get some bottles at the Indies(beside of the OB standard 10 years old of course).
We are wondering if they nowadays even sell more Ledaigs than Tobermory's.
Nose
We are standing directly in front of the race course of LeMans! Smoldering, burnt Tires on fresh asphalt enter the nose. Diesel Oil (no gasoline this time) combined with a thick and heavy sherry sweetness of sultanines, and Medjoul dates. The tire/rubber note is so characteristic for Ledaig, we found it in every expression we had so far. What's not to like about a distillery's own signature! There is also old mango and papaya (the stage of maturity when you're not sure wether you can still eat it or it's alredy fermented). Moreover there is chesterfield-leather, shoe polish and some slightly fresher notes of eucalyptus.
Palate
Heavy and intense body. Even if it spent 18 years in the cask, the peat level is still striking. It's sweet but also bitter at the same time. Black Earl Grey Tea and a touch of cinnamon are followed by cough sirup and dark chocolate. The sherry influence is huge…
Finish
Very longlasting and ashy impact on all taste buds, with the distinctive rubber note in the end. On the second sip the finish get's drier.
Rating
Some Whiskies are intense while still clean and minimalistic, sherry treated Ledaigs are quite the opposite. This expression was pretty opulent (and sometimes brutal). Actually the nose was more entertaining than the palate, but everything very well done. This is stuff to pair with red meat! It will compensate all the fat of an entrecôte for sure.
