Whisky : Ledaig 12 Year; Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection

Country/Region : Scotland/Islands

ABV : 59.8%

Cask : Refill Sherry Butt

Age : 12 Year (Distilled 7 June 2007, Bottled 11 Feb. 2020)

Nose : Floral, earthy, malty, and mildly funky, there was a lot going on with this dram.  Earthy red ginger and Hawaiian ‘alaea salt, malty-funky notes of a horse eating oats in its stable, and the fruity-nutty character of a good olive oil.  Salt and meat arrived with more time to rest as Oxtail soup appeared along with the faint chemical aroma of swimming pool chlorine.

Palate : Medium bodied with nice oily mouthfeel.  Began with loads of earthy red ginger, red dirt, sea salt, and a kiss of smoke.  Further in were notes of cassia bark, dried grass, and floral musk candies.   Toast and char came along at the end with burnt pizza crust and the burnt bottom of a bean porridge.

Finish :  Lingering sweet earth and florals.

Score : 6

Mental Image : The Horse who ate Leftovers

Something Better : Cragganmore 12Y; 2019 Special Release (similar olive oil, salt, more butterscotch) 

Something Worse : St. George Single Malt; Batch 16 (similar spice, olive oil, and floral notes)

Notes : I initially tried this Ledaig blind and honestly thought that with all of the barn and occasionally slightly lactic funk that this must be Port Charlotte or a Bruichladdich.  I certainly did not expect this to be a Ledaig, even if there had been some clues.

This dram was really all over the map with strikingly strong flavors pulling in different directions.  Despite this, it did not feel overly muddled, or lost, as each element came through cleanly and clearly.  I loved the interesting olive oil and earthy notes, I was, however, not as taken with some of the dry spice on the palate which gave this the impression of being a bit young and hot.  Ultimately, this Ledaig sat right on the border between what I love and what I just like— I would be pleasantly surprised to enjoy a pour of this, but I am be unlikely to actually go seek it out.