The Tobermory Distillery on the picturesque Isle of Mull isn't home to just unpeated whisky. It also makes superbly smoky single malt under the name of Ledaig (that name isn't simply a coincidence, by the way - Ledaig was one of the distillery's previous names!). Distilled using the same pot stills as the classic unpeated Tobermory expression, just with peated barley instead, the whisky boasts plumes of rich, earthy, almost medicinal smoke, with underlying fresh fruit and crushed spice notes. This particular expression ages for 10 years before bottled at the very specific strength of 46.3% ABV.
Quite light and well-balanced. There is a very soft peat with a gentle smoke. Notes of barley and malt extract, with walnut and pine oil and a hint of iodine, dried fruit and nuts.
Medium-bodied and quite rich. There are notes of spice and smoke gathering above the charred oak. The peat is quiet and dry with a touch of black pepper and earth.
Medium-length and slightly smoky with spice.
What an amazing expression, this is what a good peated whisky should be and what it should cost. OK so I've not been sipping long but we all like differant things, my hope is this gets poor reviews and keeps the price down for us in the know ?
Enjoyable easy drinking stuff. Light and smoky. Lacks complexity but good value at less than forty quid.
I got rich smoke with peat in my bottle. Spicy and not too sweet. Reminiscent of Talisker (next island north) if you ask me. I really like this. Just add a tablespoon of water to excite the flavours.
Peated but rounded. This is a lovely balance of malt and smoke. Much less phenolic and extreme than the Islays, and smoother and more rounded than Longrow, I'd say this is an easier introduction to peated whisky than the above, but also simply a lovely dram in and of itself.
Not quite for me (2 stars only)! There's far more peat and smoke there than the official description promotes, but it's the strong iodine element that spoils things in my view.
