Ledaig 10 Year

Color is dark gold, way too dark for a 10-year-old dram, so I think it’s safe to assume there’s coloring added. Presentation is decent at 46.3% ABV, viscous and non-chill-filtered. Nose is peaty, with briny and medicinal notes, but not overpowering. There’s a hint of oak and vanilla in there, a definite influence from the oak wood casks. Palate is surprisingly sweet, peaty and peppery, with notes of honey, melon, caramel, and vanilla. Very rich and complex, beautifully crafted. The finish is long, with lingering campfire peat and saltiness - quite a contrast from the sweet arrival. A few more minutes with this dram, and the palate changes. Now it demonstrates dominating salty notes, and the nose gets some floral character. It’s very dynamic before I even start adding water. A few drops of H2O makes it sweeter still, the dram gets some floral and fruit character, but it doesn’t much change the finish. Ledaig takes the water really well (thanks to its young nature and decent ABV), but as I’m trying to hit the sweet spot, it keeps changing on me just as it sits in the glass. I pour some more, this is delicious and hard to resist. Now that my nose is fully accustomed to peat, it doesn’t come across as its main character. I start noticing some herbal notes, some pineapple, and pear. Finish is now dominated by peppery notes. Overall, this is an excellent and complex dram for peat lovers - well done Tobermory. It’s heavier than Springbank 10 (which in my opinion is probably one of the most balanced 10-year-old drams out there, but that’s another story). But it’s not a Laphroaig 10 or an Ardbeg 10 either, and it shouldn’t be, this is not coming from Isla, it’s from the isle of Mull. You are getting a much sweeter palate, a different kind of peat, and a very dynamic nature of the dram keeps you engaged. Peat haters - beware, peat lovers - cheer! Well worth the $71.

Smoky, funky, chocolate bacon brittle.

Smell: vegetable oil, strong peat?, smoke, chemical, some sweet, jerky Taste: Smokey, jerky, not super strong alcohol taste,

Peat, smoke, honey, and clover nose; peat, biscuit and honey flavor; medium texture; finishes pretty hot with some pepper; pretty average islay

Easy drinking, deep flavour