PBMichiganWolverine
Ledaig 18 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
December 12, 2016 (edited August 27, 2018)
My second to the last Drinks by the Dram sample (was determined to finish my samples by this year end): I've never had a Ledaig before, and I figured yesterday's surprise win by the Giants over Dallas called for something new to be opened up! This distillery really came across to me as a sleeper hit. I guess Talisker gets all the glory for the Islands, but I'm starting to learn there are others up there as well, just not as popular. The aroma of this reminded squarely of a Laphroaig. In fact, when I smelled it, I had to go check my sample vial again to see if I accidentally opened up a Laphroaig. I got that bandaid, sea-whipped rope smell. I know that description sounds bad, but it's not...really. (I tell that to my wife everytime I open up a Laphroaig). The aroma really reminded me to last year, on a vacation to Norway in the Lofotan Islands. We stayed in a robruer (fishing hut) in a small village called Reine. There was this fishing rope hanging outside the hut. As soon as you step out, you get a whiff of the cold air and briny smell from the sea-whipped rope. The taste further reminded me of a sherried-Laphroaig or Lag DE. You're first hit with an orchard of fruits, but really quickly that's taken over by a peaty burnt-ashy taste, with a good dose of red fruit sweetnees (from the sherry cask finish?). Finish leaves a burnt taste, in a good way...like the charred taste of a well grilled steak topped with mango salsa. I was really tossing between 4 and 5 stars on this one...I can go either way. I'm not sure what the full bottle price is (I had a small 3cl sample that I bought earlier this year). It's good...but, I can probably do just as good for $100 on the Lag DE. If it's a bit below the Lag DE in price, I'd go for this. Above the Lag DE in price, I'll choose the Lag DE.
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I found a bottle of this back in June for around $180. The Laga DE is certainly cheaper, and while I haven't had that one yet, I did finish off this bottle a couple of months ago and proudly declared it at the top of my favorite scotch list to date. It's a perfect balance between a Laphroiag and well aged Macallan. I'm on the hunt for a replacement bottle as we speak. Cheers, Pranay.
Oh...my apologies to the others reading the NFL post...you got two New Yorkers who like whisky, and happen to be fans of American football..was bound to come up
Slainte: the 18 got me curious to now trying the 10. If the 18 is any indicator, I'm sure the 10 will be good too.
I kind of think that lack of running game in the NFL is probably because of not investing in the front linebackers. Dallas really showed investing in that line adds value---saw it with DeMarco Murray, and now with Ezekial Elliot. I'm just glad at least NY invested heavily in one area--Defense. Really good pass rush, and pretty good secondary
The lack of a running game, in general, is the norm in the NFL today. Old-school pound and ground is much curtailed. I too was shocked at the Giants-D. Was nice to see that glimpse again.
I tried this malt two days ago and found it overwhelmingly sweet... but I am not quite sure if this came from the aftertaste of my previous dram (Longrow 10). Due to this uncertainty, I won't review it just now. I loved the 10-year-old expression and certainly liked Ledaig 18 - but I can't say with certainty that it was better...
Scott: I never even knew this brand existed, was very pleasantly surprised by the 18. ( I didn't expect the Giants win either, thought this was squarely in the L column...but that defense is really good. Probably best defense I've seen from them since the LT days! Unfortunately, they lack a running game, and their only passing game is OBJ)
Scott: I never even knew this brand existed, was very pleasantly surprised by the 18. ( I didn't expect the Giants win either, thought this was squarely in the L column...but that defense is really good. Probably best defense I've seen from them since the LT days! Unfortunately, they lack a running game, and their only passing game is OBJ)
Ironically, I opened a bottle of Ledaig 10 last night and will be posting the review. The 10 is good and would love to try, one day, the 18. Some similarities between the 10 and 18 (no surprise). Lastly, nice win the the Giants. Did not expect that.