Ledaig 10 Year

Initial Aroma of smoke recedes as you become accustomed to the glass. Peach, hard candy sugar come forward Flavor is peach and stone fruit notes with some menthol and Cloraseptic. The smokey finish lingers nicely

I had a sample of this in a liquor store some months ago now, but remember nothing of it. I picked up a bottle for a low $90 a few weeks back which is a little lower than the usual RRP. Having seen it made it to Ralfys Whisky of the Year for 22 i figured its unlikely to be bad and worth a shot. N: I find the nose to be light and delicate. A gentle peaty-iodine is soft and ever so slightly sweet. A background of malty barley, a little nutty oil (like the bottom of a walnut jar) and something a little dried fruit like, perhaps sultana. I think there is some toffee and spice in here as well that comes out after a first sip. With a splash of water the fruit is more pronounced and it is brilliant. P: Big, bold, and full upfront. Dry smoke and peppery spice are immediate, and delicious. There is a refreshing and borderline mouthwatering mulch-earthiness that comes though on the back end of the smoke hit. Charred oak and some savoury BBQ are further added to what I feel is becoming a juicy palate. Somehow there is a balanced sweetness, maybe a crunchy apple I’m not sure. From the touch of water there is more of a burnt sugar or BBQ pineapple. This sweetness actually reminds me of Smokehead Rum Rebel. My only criticism I suppose is that there is a lack of things to find. Undeniably this delivers excellence, but there are very few things that I have found. I don’t know if thats just me. In any case, a few more flavours would be perfect. F: Long. As the smoke clears there is a plump raisin and tannic deliciousness. This is not the liquid I remember from last time. This is gold. Like a surgeons scalpel this is precise and delicate, but effective. The peat is beautifully restrained and just melts into the palate. Clean, crisp, and well made. well worth the buy. (Whilst not from the Isle of Mull directly, the Tiree Marble Pictured here with green diopside and pink dolomite is from the Isle of Tiree right next door and has its origins dating back some 2.5 billion years ago) Distiller whisky taste #96

Nice dram. Nice peat. Would buy.

Evokes: Fresh baked bread under a warm weighted blanket in front of a crackling fire at Christmas time. The best time of year encapsulated in a lovely dram. 🎄 The scotch that made me love whisky; hard to say no to that moment of pure joy.

Smokey, burnt bacon