Whisky : Ledaig 13 Year; Single Cask Nation

Country/Region : Scotland/Islands

ABV : 57.1%

Cask : Second Fill Sherry 

Age : 13 Years (Distilled Oct. 2005, Bottled March 2019)

Nose : Maritime wood and an acrid smoke draw you in.  An old Gulf Coast shrimp boat, a washed up rubber slipper, the greasy floor boards in a leather workshop— there are all sorts of maritime-rubber-oil-meat notes that combine in interesting ways.  On the one hand are grilled prawns on the other cherries jubilee; turn one way its hum haw or dried shrimp, turn another and it’s the slightly acrid sour smell of an old urinal.  

Palate : Industrialized shoreline— salty waterlogged docks, funky sulphur, camphor, shrimp shells, and a faint rust.  The beautiful maritime smoke notes compliment meaty bits of bbq shrimp and greasy salty chips.  An underlying sweetness helps tie things together— dried bing cherries, caramelized red peppers, and just a hint of windex.

Finish :  Lingering camphor and acrid smoke with sweet dried fruits.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Burning Wooden Pallets at the Harbor yard.

Something Similar : Laphroaig PX (slightly more aromatic, less complex, similar burning candy store)

Something Worse : Finlaggan Cask Strength (similar industrial camphor smoke, less complex/maritime)

Notes :  What an absolute beauty.  The nose and palate present wonderfully complex maritime and funky cheese notes.  This classic Ledaig profile marries wonderfully with the second fill sherry cask.  After tasting this the wife remarked that maybe she likes Ledaig… a lot.  This is just a stellar Ledaig and there really is not much more to say.  The complexity on the nose is outstanding— I love a dram that just seems to constantly be changing shape and which is pungent enough that you do not have to look hard to find dominant notes.

If I had one wish, it would be that I could grab a bottle of this locally.  I really wish Single Cask Nation shipped to my locale or had a distributor in the state.  Sometimes we are left high and dry when it comes to great scotch out in the Pacific.  This would be an easy pickup if I saw it available and I would heartily recommend this to anyone who counts themselves a fan of Ledaig or the combination of Peat and Sherry.