Primarily based on the Isle of Mull, Tobermory is without doubt one of the distilleries in Scotland that produces two distinct types of whisky: unpeated, and peated. Tobermory is the title of their unpeated whisky, whereas Ledaig is the title of their peated line.
The distillery shares its title with the picturesque harbour city of Tobermory, the place it’s positioned. It’s the one distillery on the island which is located north of Islay and Jura. The city of Tobermory is understood for its vibrant buildings, and Tobermory-branded whiskies replicate this function of the city of their vibrant packaging design (with yellow, inexperienced, pink and purple labels).
In distinction, Ledaig-branded whiskies can be found in bottles with extra muted, earthy colouring (hinting on the extra earthy and peaty flavours one can count on from the whisky itself). The proximity of the distillery to the ocean can be meant to lend Ledaig (and Tobermory) a refined maritime or briny flavour profile.
The title “Ledaig” (pronounced “Letch-ick”) comes from the Gaelic for “protected haven” – a reference to the situation of the distillery on the coast, but additionally a nod to the earlier title of the distillery.
Established by John Sinclair in 1798 (with this 12 months proudly emblazoned on the glass bottles of each Tobermory and Ledaig), Tobermory distillery is technically one of many oldest distilleries in Scotland. But it has had a turbulent historical past. It has suffered a number of closures and modifications of possession through the years. It halted manufacturing in 1837, and was put up on the market plenty of instances. After a major interval of dormancy, the distillery resumed operations in 1972, solely to finish up closing once more till 1989. Within the Nineteen Nineties, below the possession of Burn Stewert Distillers, the distillery lastly gained some stability and commenced to flourish once more. Burn Stewert Distillers, a subsidiary of the Distell Group Restricted, are nonetheless the present homeowners of the distillery and model.
The 2 whiskies that kind a part of the peated Ledaig core vary are the 10-year-old and the 18-year-old. There are, nonetheless, plenty of different restricted and particular Ledaig releases too, completed in a wide range of fascinating cask sorts, or at various ages and ABV ranges.
Peating whisky was initially a necessity reasonably than a alternative. In sure areas (like Islay, or the Isle of Mull) different gasoline sources have been usually scarce, so whisky makers used peat to dry their barley. Right this moment, it’s a deliberate alternative that distilleries make in an effort to create particular flavour profiles of their whisky.
The peat utilized by Tobermory distillery was sourced from the Isle of Mull, however that is now not the case. Many peat bogs in Scotland are actually protected environments, and using peat is strictly monitored. There are additionally plenty of restoration initiatives that are underway to protect Scotland’s peatlands. Reportedly, solely round 1% of the full quantity of the peat that’s extracted within the UK is definitely used for Scotch whisky manufacturing, but distilleries are actually extra conscious of the necessity to strike a stability between custom and environmental duty.
Scotland is just not the one nation to provide peated whisky, and there are literally an rising variety of distilleries all through the world that are actually wanting extra significantly at options to peat. Maybe probably the most fascinating of those is a distillery in Iceland which makes use of sheep dung to smoke their malted barley. Apparently, using sheep dung imparts a novel, earthy, and smoky flavour to the whisky – definitely one thing to maintain an eye fixed out for!
Returning to the extra conventional peated whisky from Tobermory: I first obtained a bottle of Ledaig 10 as a present final 12 months from prolonged household who have been visiting from the UK. This was the primary time I’d ever really seen a bottle of this whisky in individual. Tobermory produces whisky in comparatively small portions, so maybe it isn’t all that shocking that it took so lengthy for me to come back throughout a bottle. For some time it didn’t seem to be I used to be capable of finding any whisky from Tobermory in my native market, but it surely’s not too long ago begun to make a semi-regular look in additional boutique whisky shops.
Whereas it’s usually out of inventory in my native shops (a testomony, I believe, to its reputation), I’m often capable of finding a bottle of Ledaig 10 for round $67 (which is roughly the identical worth as a bottle of Bruichladdich’s The Traditional Laddie). Ledaig 10 is aged in ex-bourbon casks, is non-chill filtered, pure color, and bottled at 46.3% ABV – so it instantly ticks quite a lot of packing containers that many whisky fanatics are on the lookout for.
Ledaig 10 – Overview
Color: Golden honey.
On the nostril: Contemporary pineapples, inexperienced apples and crisp pears. There’s a particular peatiness, however this isn’t overwhelming. A richer and sweeter caramel be aware emerges, accompanied by the warming spice of cloves. There’s a refined minerality within the background.
Within the mouth: Wealthy and warming, with an exceptionally comfortable and silky texture. Robust medicinal peat. Maybe the gentlest trace of barely salty liquorice, and the slightest contact of menthol. There’s a candy and fragrant be aware paying homage to rose-flavoured Turkish Delight. Toasted marshmallows. Cherry tobacco, adopted by some intensely darkish chocolate.
Conclusion:
Whereas the medicinal character of the peat in Ledaig 10 isn’t totally aligned with my private preferences, there’s no denying the standard and complexity of this whisky. I actually loved it. It affords an amazing mixture of daring, smoky flavours and a fragile sweetness that retains you coming again for one more sip. The maritime affect, comfortable texture, and the number of aromas and flavours make it a memorable expression. Ledaig 10 is definitely price exploring for peat lovers – nonetheless, if you happen to’re not a fan of peat, then this may not be the whisky for you.
