Double Ledaig

Ledaig 20 yo (43%, OB, late Nineties)
I’ve vivid and fond recollections of how they was once extraordinarily keen on this bottling within the outdated Loch Fyne Whiskies store, and the way their nice salesman, Andy, used to promote it to anybody and everybody with nice verve and enthusiasm. Very a lot the age of innocence! Now, as I recall, some batches have been distinctly higher than others… Color: pale straw. Nostril: ah sure, a peaty one! Coal smoke, smooth tarry notes, moist rocks, crisp peat smoke, mineral salts and contemporary seafood. Fantastically contemporary and hyper clear, nearly actually dominated by pre-1974 Ledaig! Mouth: rather less spectacular, coal smoke once more, however it’s general a bit flatter and with a barely extra papery really feel to the smokiness. Damp bonfires, moist bark, salty porridge, fireplace embers and aspirin. A peated malt that feels prefer it has been blended with some unpeated in a humorous approach – not unattainable in the case of humorous outdated bottlings from Tobermory distillery! Nonetheless, a lot good seashore vibes and smooth peaty notes. End: surprisingly lengthy and again on tarry and salty combos, some sorts of smoked porridge within the aftertaste. Feedback: Serge wasn’t a fan of this one on a couple of event in Whiskyfun’s distant previous. I think that is in all probability one of many higher batches, though it is technically a bit unsure on the palate. I discover it very laborious to disentangle this bottling from my recollections of Inverary. By the way, in case you are passing, I can strongly suggest the good George Resort, their meals is prime notch and the whisky bar and its beautiful workers even higher!
SGP: 455 – 84 factors.

Ledaig 32 yo 1972/2005 (48.9%, Alambic Classique, cask #8721, oloroso sherry butt, 396 bottles)
Talking of the age of innocence… Color: deep gold. Nostril: peaty wellies wading by dense sherry! That is the vibe anyway. Fairly a thick and stodgy feeling of sherry, which isn’t unhealthy factor, with peat feeling somewhat smooth and earthy behind that. There’s additionally softer medicinal traits akin to cough syrup, then heather honey, some very outdated Drambuie and delicate peppery notes. I would add some Serrano ham, tarred rope and camphor into the cut price too. Mouth: camphor, combined with natural tonic wines and fairly a number of different natural qualities, natural teas, extracts, tinctures, ointments and so forth. Additionally bitter orange marmalade, hessian material, beef inventory, outdated leather-based, bone marrow and iodine. An enormous tussle between the sherry and the peat, however in an entertaining approach that entails pleasing integration. Has a sublime however balanced bitterness about it too, with bay leaf, inexperienced walnut and rancio points. End: lengthy and way more on saltiness, nutty notes, cabinet spices, walnut wine, soy sauce, emotions of bakelite and plasticine and a few salted liquorice and chewing tobacco. Feedback: decidedly outdated fashion, you so hardly ever discover whiskies which have this sort of character lately. Now, I do not suppose it is fairly 90 level materials purely because of these somewhat excessive traits, however it’s a little bit of a technicality. I like this huge, rugged, earthy outdated Ledaig.
SGP: 465 – 89 factors.