Whisky: Ledaig 11 Year (2008), Archives "The Fishes of Samoa"

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 53.8%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 11 Year (Distilled 7 Feb. 2008, Bottled 19 Dec. 2019)

Nose: Toasted meringue with hints of citrus and salt, mild earthy funk, charred wood, old bonfire, subtle toasted herbs and pine nettles.

Palate: Medium-bodied with oily citrus, tobacco ash, old bonfire, lemon peel, tar, salt water taffy, ginger, pinewood embers.

Finish: Lingering wood ash and citrus peel.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Morning Walk on the Beach

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was initially sweet with creamy toasted lemon meringue pie and hints of lightly salted butter crust. A mild earthy-pond funk gathered steam with charred wood, tar, old bonfire pits, and subtle notions of toasted herbs and pine nettles. The profile was medium-bodied and gentle with ample citrus and wood char. Tobacco ash appeared, faded, and lingered at the end with old bonfire pits, tar, and pinewood embers. Notes of lemon peel, orange, and ginger— occasionally sweet and candied like saltwater taffy, arrived on the mid-palate. The finish was medium length with bonfire ash, citrus peel, and hints of vanilla.

I originally tried this as a blind sample and figured between the citrus and salt that this was a beautifully mellow Caol Ila matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 11 years old. I was close! Correct on the age and cask maturation, but off on the distillery. This was a lovely Ledaig, less funky than the 10-year-old that preceded it but smoother and gentler— perhaps even dangerously so.

Overall, a delicious and well-balanced Ledaig; another winner from Whiskybase’s Archive series.

Image Credit: Whiskybase