Whisky: Ledaig Unpeated 27 Year (1995), Thompson Brothers

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 47.4%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 27 Years (Distilled 1995, Bottled 2022)

Nose: Soft tropical fruits, butter, salty-mineral-rich sea air, lemon and lime flavored granita with wispy smoke in the background; chilled pineapple and mango from a beach cooler, hints of coconut; donuts and coffee from a seaside cart.

Palate: Light-body, buttery, sparkling tropical fruit with lemon, pineapple, guava, and more subtle mango; mellow beach vibes of minerals and brine with a touch of coconut and something metallic; citrus rinds and herbs with a slightly funky-fermented vibe toward the end.

Finish: Medium to long and mellow, fruity, herbal, and a touch metallic.

Score: 8 (87)

Mental Image: Beach Day Getaway

Narrative & Notes: Good vibes throughout; I love the unpredictable nature of Ledaig from this era .  The distillery experienced a great deal of flux between 1991-1995 before reaching something more recognizable in 1996 to the Ledaig and Tobermory we know today. These early nineties examples rarely blow your socks off, but they are unmistakenly charming, the sort of whisky to bring a smile to your face and then disappear unreasonably fast. At least, that is my experience; from the first sniff, I could feel myself smiling, and the next thing I knew, my glass was empty.

Welcoming and well-balanced, the mouthfeel was a touch light, but the flavors were crisp and clear. The aroma had more depth than the palate, though the funky fermented and herbal quality at the end was an unexpected twist and a callback to an era when that was more common on malts.

Overall, a beauty— a real delight, and I cannot believe K&L in California was selling these for 200 USD; other fans of Ledaig from this era know just how expensive they can be. I will note in closing that the wife was less enamored with this; she awarded it a 3/5 on her scale, which she usually uses for things that are good or enjoyable but not to her taste. She described it as kiwis and fruit tarts with a touch of cream but otherwise found the profile too austere for her taste.  Certainly it did lack the waxiness or oily qualities that some Ledaig from this era that she really enjoyed had.