Whisky: Ledaig 11 Year (2010), Infrequent Flyers Cask 2380

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 58.5%

Cask: New Oak Finish

Age: 11 Years (Distilled 2010, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Sweet barbecue grills and an active construction site—dusty earth, glue, plywood, cured oak, and fresh cement; subtle tropical fruit skins—a discarded papaya perhaps on a sawdust-strewn workshop floor; water surfaced more earth, vanilla, and raisins.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, syrupy, brine and oak, lacquered wood with a kiss of varnish, orange rind and licorice, youthful and spirited, peppery; water brought out more fruit, though it did little to dissuade the oak from turning a touch bitter.

Finish: Medium-length with orange, mellow brine, and plenty of fresh lumber.

Score: 5-6 (77)

Mental Image: Beaver’s Dessert Island Snack

Narrative & Notes: I enjoyed the aroma, which felt well-balanced between the influence of the spirited, peaty malt and the new oak finish; it was a real highlight when hints of something more tropical appeared between the grill smoke and lumber. Unfortunately, I found the palate to be fairly straightforward and cask-dominated in an unpleasant manner; the big, woody qualities of the nose took center stage and pushed everything else to the edges. A few drops of water brought out more of the fruit and helped to mellow some of the spirited prickle, yet wood remained the dominant chord. The influence of the oak reminded me a bit of Balcones at times.

Overall, big, woody, and peaty— I fell squarely on the lower end of reactions to this whisky (at least judging by the generally good scores on Whiskybase), so your mileage may vary. I found the oak too strong and wondered if peat-curious bourbon drinkers might find this a happy waypoint when charting a course toward new flavors.

As an addendum, I wanted to note that my wife did not find it woody at all. She described it as roasted meats with lemon and scored it a 4/5—she was a fan.