Whisky: Ledaig 15 Year (2006), Douglas Laing Cask DL14901 for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 51.8%

Cask: Refill Sherry Butt

Age: 15 Years (Distilled Feb. 2006, Bottled Oct. 2021)

Nose: A busy marina— maritime brine, smoked fish, plastic boat seats, barbecue smoke, smoked octopus, rubber buoys and wooden docks; charred fruits with pineapples, pears, and yuzu.

Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced and mellow, charred fruits with a kiss of salt, hints of rubber and plastic with richer notes of a charcoal grill and smoked fish slowly developing; tonka beans and chocolate lingered at the end as if enjoying desserts dockside.

Finish: Medium-length with subtle salt, fruits, vanilla, and chocolate.

Score: 6-7 (81)

Mental Image: Marina Dessert Bar

Narrative & Notes: This was an absolute coastal delight with plenty of maritime and dirty industrial notes fronting grilled seafood and fruits.  I love a good touch of plastic— as a pen chewer, this is no surprise— and this reminded me of spending the day on the fishing charter boat or pulling into the harbor at the end and going straight to the grill or snack bar.  I found much the same on the palate, though little of the background plasticine and a lot more rich dessert. Maritime notes threaded throughout on a generally balanced and mellow flavor profile with hints of something more acrid or peppery.

Overall, this beautiful Ledaig featured a good balance between cask and malt with well-structured layers of flavor that only lacked a bit of potency and clarity to bump the whisky up to the next level. While the wife and I did not see eye to eye on every Ledaig we tried lately, on this one, at least, we were both fans. I could imagine us killing a bottle of this very easily in no time.