Ledaig 13 Amontillado Cask Finish

This is the epitome of barn yard funk. It is so amazing! I get the campfire on a beach, hay, pine tar on old telephone poles, a good old rusty tractor, the 1x6 boards with old red paint on them. It is wonderful!

Really impressive Ledaig. Nose: sweet. Caramel. Apple. Earthy peat leads way to bbq meats. Frosting sweetness at the end. Palate: characteristic Ledaig sootiness. Rollercoaster of sweet, savory, umami. Finish: very lingering. Viscous. Ashy. Burnt peat. Ash tray (in a good way). Very cloying. The best part of the experience is the nose and palate. Fantastic dram and a favorite Ledaig.

Just opened the bottle I got at Deanston (sister distillery) and as promised came with this (express) review: “O M G !!! Caramelised apple, smoked bacon, “funkiness” and a salty edge... Weird? I freaking ❤️ it! (Disclaimer: not for the faint of heart)” It is indeed so weird that it keeps it 1/4 point apart from the perfect score... It’s not your every day dram, nor will you always be on the mood for it, but when you are, it sure is one hell of a ride!

Damn I'm excited. Dramfest NZ is 6 weeks away and as a bonus I managed to score sessions for me and one of my mates to 1) a rare top shelf session with Dave Broom and Charles MacClean 2) a single cask 1990's Glendronach session with the Global Ambassador 3) 3 special Ardbeg releases presented by Brendan McCarron who is Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks (who knew that's a title). Apparently he also helped to design Roseisle Distillery, managed Oban Distillery, and acted as Group manager for Lagavulin and Caol Ila Distilleries and Port Ellen Maltings on Islay. A man who knows his stuff! Anyhow to the whiskey. I'm thinking (no offense to fans) I consider Ledaig a poor mans Kilchoman (and not from a cost perspective). Why? It's got that Kilchoman peat characteristic however it (in my personal opinion) ruins it for me by the acidic peat element it imposes over the top. I find Kilchoman more balanced, well rounded and often creamy. My first bottle of Ledaig was the 10 which I hated then really loved and then really disliked. It remains to this day the only bottle which I have fallen out, in and out of love so intensely. It's a dram I really get why some love and some hate. Anyhow this particular dram is so so, overriding acidity with a sweeter Amontillado overlay. Not one for me.

Very very intense! Kinda love it but could only happen on rare occasions. Kinda like Kilchoman only far far beyond edge.