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Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Ledaig 15 year old 2005 Single Malts of Scotland, cask 72

It's kinda difficult to go wrong with 15-20 year old single cask Ledaig, and I have three of them lined up for this week. I'll continue going in age order, starting with a......15 year old. Bottled for the possibly-cancelled 2020 Whisky in Leiden festival in the Netherlands, this Mull exited its single bourbon barrel at a not-too-terrifying 55.5%abv.

Distillery: Tobermory
Malt: Ledaig
Owner: Distell International Ltd.
Region: Isle of Mull
Independent Bottler: Elixir Distillers
Range: Single Malts of Scotland
Age: 15 years and 1 day (3 Feb 2005 - 4 Feb 2020)
Maturation: Bourbon barrel
Cask number: 72
Outturn: 237 bottles
Exclusive to: Whisky in Leiden 2020
Alcohol by Volume: 55.5%
(from a purchased sample)

NEAT

Chalk, saline, seaweed, and spent oil on hot concrete arrive first in the nose, followed by toffee and Werther's Originals. It gets peatier with time, but also gains orange zest, cinnamon and light blue Mr. Sketch markers. The palate arrives at a perfect intersection of peat, sweet and lime. Hints of pound cake and hay fill the background. A bright prickly tartness develops with time, carrying over into the earthy finish, with toffee pudding in the background.

DILUTED to ~46%abv, or 1¼ tsp of water per 30mL whisky

The nose shows cinnamon and baked plums framed by seaweedy smoke. The palate starts with minerals and smoke, with very tart lemons in the midground, and brown sugar in the back. The finish matches the palate.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

Seeing "yummy" twice in the handwritten tasting notes, a reader could say I liked this stuff. A LOT. I'm not sure I've had a recent official Ledaig this damned good. The barrel does just enough, the spirit continues to thrive, and it swims. It may not be the most complex Ledaig around, but it works on every level. I want more. MORE!

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - It was €80. You lucky festival folks.
Rating - 89 (darn close to 90)

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