Whisky: Ledaig 11 Year (2005), Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 45%

Cask: Hermitage Wood Finish (26 mo.)

Age: 11 Years (Distilled 7 Sept. 2005, Bottled 23 Aug. 2017)

Nose: Smoked fruits with a hint of fish; old wood, metallic and rubbery at times; kippers with olive oil and brine; smoked fish and dried mango in a tractor shed with big dirty rubber tires and a rusted oil can.

Palate: Medium to light-bodied, fruity and metallic with a gentle brine and helping of dirty oil-stained rags and tarry ropes; an old boat shed with an oil lamp, salty kippers, and rubber buoy; more preserved fruit and coal soot toward the end.

Finish: Medium-length with dried fruit, old engine grease, and a kiss of salt.

Score: 7 (83)

Mental Image: Wizard’s Backyard Multipurpose Shed

Narrative & Notes: Simple but effective fare— I was a bit taken aback by how much I enjoyed this whisky (especially after not being enthused by a similar Caol Ila). The aroma was wonderfully dirty and sweet, with smoked fruits, fish, and dirty industrial elements all swirling together and pulling me toward fish-smoking shacks, tractor barns, and an old boat shed.  The palate bounded between similar notes with added soot and less fish. The finish had a good length and intensity, continuing the two-faced, fruit and dirty industrial profile.

The flavors were generally well-structured and integrated—nothing felt off or clashed. The metallic notes of iron and rusted paint buckets grafted some Springbank-esque vibes onto the malt, especially in the absence of any cheese rind or maritime funk. If this had been a bit more intense, complex, or longer-lasting, it would have been gorgeous. However, those are relatively minor quibbles when the whisky was already impressive.

Overall, I could see this bottle disappearing from my shelf very quickly. The wife was less of a fan, as she found some of the flavors a touch off and described them as overly similar to bodily functions. No further explanation was given.