Soba45
Ledaig 13 Amontillado Cask Finish
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
January 25, 2020 (edited January 27, 2020)
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.
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@Generously_Paul My review maybe? Well everyone’s palate is different and I stay true to my review. Amazing dram... And for me Ledaig>>>Kilchoman (that happens to be my least favorite Islay). See, everyone has a different opinion on the same matters, that’s what makes whisky (and the whole life) interesting. Open yours and make your own call. 😉
@Soba45 I see. I guess no matter the whiskey the tasting will be interesting with those two.
@PBMichiganWolverine Oh and I've made a note to ask.No promises though as after 20 or 30 whiskies who knows how my memory will be!
@PBMichiganWolverine Yeah it was such a great site and it had top google search results placement which people kill for. Not sure if they just wanted to move on to other pastures but didn't want anyone else coming in and ruining their and the sites legacy? Did they mention costs being a factor?
@Scott_E Yeah he's a really nice down to earth guy. Not a trace of whiskey snobbery about him
@Generously_Paul I think if you are a Ledaig fan you'll enjoy it way more however in saying that it didn't blow @Richard-ModernDrinking away either and I have had better finished Ledaigs. Sorry!
@Soba45 the session with Dave Broom would be amazing. Do me a favor —ask him if he considered cutting costs first on his amazing review site , like high price content, and detailed articles, rather than completely going shutdown
@PBMichiganWolverine Literally staring at my phone until the clock ticked to 18:00 on a Sunday, praying there wouldn't be any internet or anything else going wrong and very quickly buying. I popped back in 13 or so minutes later and all were cleaned out bar the Glenlivet, Kilkerran and Rum sessions and then shortly after that just the rum was left should be a cracker day, several of us at flying in from round NZ to attend. https://dramfest.co.nz/sessions
@1901 No sadly they never tell you. Most are single casks it's highly unlikely most would have never had however the rare drams are most likely going to be very old obscure stuff that whilst I wouldn't have tasted if In knew what they were I might not attend as I had something similar e.g. A 35 year Cadenhead Brora which while I haven't had that I have had a similar aged G&M one so at $100 USD a session for 3 drams it may not be VFM for me personally. However there is the chance that it is a closed distillery I've never had so dont want to miss out and kick myself!
@1901 Would love to hear/participate in that session with Dave Broom. Congratulations. Do detail afterwards.
That’s disappointing. I bought one of these based on a glowing review. Now I’m less interested in opening mine
Nice! How’d you score—-lottery/ballot?
Yes, Kilchoman > Ledaig for me too. Some special sessions to look forward to there. I’m jealous! Do you know what is lined up for the first session you list?