Sydney Whisky Show May 20th 2023. Whisky #18 Nose: Sooty peat smoke, smoked meats, smoked red berries, mint and a waxy menthol or eucalyptus aroma. There is an interesting balance between smoke, mellow red wine and bright distillate notes and there is a touch of feints on the nose. Palate: A very fine, mellow smoky arrival with cherries, red berries and malt balanced against pepper, sweet cinnamon and brine. In the development I found cherry nougat, cherry chocolate cake, honey, tropical fruit and salted chocolate-covered caramels. The texture is excellent – lightly creamy and just a little oily but also dry. Finish: Medium/Long: Sweet red fruit, a little demure spice and lingering warm peat smoke. Delicious whisky. I don’t know what more I can say. I finished my tasting dram (not too quickly!) and immediately asked for a refill. I never do that but on this occasion I could not hold back. The pours were a little meagre and I needed MORE. I avoided this when it first appeared because the price seemed a bit steep for a "mere" 9 year old whisky, and with the excellent 18 being just a few dollars more I could not see the point. Of course, I had overlooked the fact that this is cask strength and also full Bordeaux maturation, not just a finish. Don’t compare it to anything in the Ledaig core range, think of it in the context of IB cask-strength expressions and it makes sense. By the time I got to the sales stall at the exit to the show this was sold out, but fortunately I was able to order a bottle from another source. Recommended. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)