Double Ledaig

Ledaig 20 yo (43%, OB, late Nineties)
I’ve vivid and fond recollections of how they was extraordinarily keen on this bottling within the previous Loch Fyne Whiskies store, and the way their nice salesman, Andy, used to promote it to anybody and everybody with nice verve and enthusiasm. Very a lot the age of innocence! Now, as I recall, some batches have been distinctly higher than others… Color: pale straw. Nostril: ah sure, a peaty one! Coal smoke, delicate tarry notes, moist rocks, crisp peat smoke, mineral salts and contemporary seafood. Fantastically contemporary and hyper clear, virtually definitely dominated by pre-1974 Ledaig! Mouth: rather less spectacular, coal smoke once more, nevertheless it’s general a little bit flatter and with a barely extra papery really feel to the smokiness. Damp bonfires, moist bark, salty porridge, hearth embers and aspirin. A peated malt that feels prefer it has been blended with some unpeated in a humorous means – not not possible with regards to humorous previous bottlings from Tobermory distillery! Nonetheless, loads good seashore vibes and delicate peaty notes. End: surprisingly lengthy and again on tarry and salty combos, some sorts of smoked porridge within the aftertaste. Feedback: Serge wasn’t a fan of this one on multiple event in Whiskyfun’s distant previous. I think that is most likely one of many higher batches, though it is technically a little bit unsure on the palate. I discover it very arduous to disentangle this bottling from my recollections of Inverary. By the way, in case you are passing, I can strongly advocate the good George Lodge, their meals is prime notch and the whisky bar and its beautiful employees even higher!
SGP: 455 – 84 factors.

Ledaig 32 yo 1972/2005 (48.9%, Alambic Classique, cask #8721, oloroso sherry butt, 396 bottles)
Talking of the age of innocence… Color: deep gold. Nostril: peaty wellies wading by way of dense sherry! That is the vibe anyway. Fairly a thick and stodgy feeling of sherry, which isn’t unhealthy factor, with peat feeling relatively delicate and earthy behind that. There’s additionally softer medicinal traits akin to cough syrup, then heather honey, some very previous Drambuie and mild peppery notes. I might add some Serrano ham, tarred rope and camphor into the discount too. Mouth: camphor, blended with natural tonic wines and fairly a couple of different natural qualities, natural teas, extracts, tinctures, ointments and many others. Additionally bitter orange marmalade, hessian fabric, beef inventory, previous leather-based, bone marrow and iodine. A giant tussle between the sherry and the peat, however in an entertaining means that includes pleasing integration. Has a chic however balanced bitterness about it too, with bay leaf, inexperienced walnut and rancio facets. End: lengthy and rather more on saltiness, nutty notes, cabinet spices, walnut wine, soy sauce, emotions of bakelite and plasticine and a few salted liquorice and chewing tobacco. Feedback: decidedly previous model, you so hardly ever discover whiskies which have this type of character lately. Now, I do not suppose it is fairly 90 level materials purely because of these relatively excessive traits, nevertheless it’s a little bit of a technicality. I really like this large, rugged, earthy previous Ledaig.
SGP: 465 – 89 factors.