Nose: Coal-fire smoke, raspberries, strawberries, rose hip tisane. The signature Ledaig sooty smoke is very apparent and there is also a mossy, earthy quality. Some restrained cinnamon and clove. Palate: Similar to the nose, coal smoke and red berries on the arrival leading into a mildly spiced and cereal-focused development with white pepper, cinnamon and a little salt. The texture is medium and pleasantly dry, becoming more drying as it progresses with a grassy, hay-like note appearing and the salty maritime quality building into the finish. Finish: Medium. Spicy/sweet fruits and a waft of distant charcoal that dissolves into a dry, briny aftertaste with a hint of the red berries. A maritime malt which, although technically “heavily peated” at 30-40ppm, has good balance between its smoky and wine-influenced facets. Ledaig does not show bonfire or barbecue smoke notes (at least in my experience). Instead, it has a sooty, mineral quality that is not unlike smelling a coal scuttle or unburnt barbecue briquettes. It’s a dry, almost austere character that I have always found very appealing. Its unpeated stablemate, Tobermory, also has this dry, mineralic austerity. This NAS expression was the first release in the distillery’s Sinclair Series, named after John Sinclair who founded the distillery in 1798. Initially matured in refill bourbon casks and then finished in ex-Rioja wine casks of undisclosed origin, it has the youthful exuberance and smokiness of young peated whisky, but it is certainly not rough or immature. I’d say it is around 5-8 years old. On first tasting I was reminded of the very good Ledaig 10 year old but without that expression’s citrus and ginger notes and instead featuring a cosy blanket of sweet red fruit. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)