Whisky : Ledaig 14 Year; Gordon & MacPhail Single Cask

Country/Region : Scotland/Islands

ABV : 54.5%

Cask : Refill Sherry Hogshead

Age : 14 Years (Distilled 21 Sept. 2000, Bottled 2015)

Nose : Sweet grill smoke and funk, like melted crayons.  Medicinal notes of camphor and menthol hang behind saltwater, rotting seaweed, and discarded coconut husks.  Floral fruity notes of canned peaches pop in before meaty smoked salmon takes its place.

Palate : Medium bodied with sharp clean flavors.  Rich meat and smoke ride out with maple wood smoked bacon, sweet tangy teriyaki glazed salmon, and salty salmon roe.  A faint funky creaminess like goat cheese comes through along with Mirin, sweet vinegar, and motor oil.  The creaminess sticks around as herbal notes arrive on the back end like a compound butter or aioli.

Finish :  Lingering saltiness with charred fresh fruits.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Teriyaki Salmon Plate Lunch.

Something Similar : Benriach 6Y; Duncan Taylor Octave (similar bacon/maple, more fruits)

Something Similar : Ledaig 13Y; SMoS (similar bacon/salmon, more stone fruit/plum)

Something Worse : Balvenie 14Y “Peat Week” 2018 Edition (similar herbal/camphor, more apple/barn)

Notes : This was wonderful— a bit too wonderful.  I usually like to share a dram with the wife to see if she picks up anything I totally miss.  It is a great help having a partner who loves to just blind taste a little bit of everything.  This time, however, she did not want just a little taste and after just a few drops she poured out every bit I had left in her glass.  She saved me a few drops so I could retaste it later in the evening when I sat to type this up and boy was it good.  I wish we had a whole bottle as this was absolutely excellent and everything I want from a sherried Ledaig.  I think the second fill cask worked beautifully to complement the funky maritime profile of the spirit without totally dominating it or drowning it out.  This was definitely a treat!