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.
Just had my second to last pour out of this bottle and my glass is empty. But the lovely scent keeps lingering. When I have a smell of the glass, the smoky smell with a hint of ham or bacon even lingers. Awesome dram.
Wonderful scotch! it started out with a peaty smoke and ended with a wonderful salty finish. In the middle you have a melody of wonderful flavor.
Don't like the other Islands whisky Talisker that much? But I was pleasantly surprised by this pour. Nice peat and a whiff of iodine. Really liked it. (Actually brought a bottle home with me after the tasting)
Sweet, lightly peated and full mouthfeel.
Presentation: The Ledaig 10 Year Old comes in a nice stumpy, clear glass bottle with grey labels with white and silver print. The year of the distillery's founding, 1798, is embossed in glass; as is 'Isle of Mull' and the cork stopper has a great looking image of the Isle of Mull carved into it, resembling an ink stamp. Good mix of modern and classic design elements. Appearance: Pale orange in colour uninhibited by coloured glass. No indication of E150 caramel colouring being added but the label makes no point of it not being added either. Non-chill filtered and bottled at the telltale 46.3% ABV. Whisky Trivia: The esters commonly removed through chill-filtration are soluble (therefore not visible) in solutions with an ABV of 46% or greater. It is a good indication that the whisky has not been chill-filtered if it is bottled at or above 46% ABV. Aroma: The smell of that grey partly dirt, diluted salt-water river beach, not the full-on white/yellow sand ocean beach smell. Faint smoke, mud. Citrus, lemon or orange. Addition of water brings the citrus fruit forward and some vanilla. Flavour: Odd smokiness, like licking a burnout off asphalt. Oak. Addition of water makes for a more pleasant smokiness. Finish: Medium length, building spice. Bitter right at the end. Would I buy it again? I would buy another Ledaig for sure, but perhaps not this 10 Year Old. Ledaig expressions are often released by independent bottlers and there is an 18 Year Old distillery release. I am open to trying these but there are plenty of other peaty whiskies that I prefer over this one. I highly recommend adding some water to get the most out of it. -WhiskyDad
