Ledaig, 10 year old, 46.3%, $49
Tobermory’s peated offering. Great to see Ledaig hitting its stride, with a brisk punch of peat and not chill-filtered. There’s a bit of a raw edge too, quite bracing but still plenty of soothing sweetness. Earthy peat smoke, ripe barley, honeyed vanilla, bourbon barrel char, black licorice stick, espresso bean, olive brine, and suggestions of beef jerky. In some respects, it even tastes younger than 10 years old, but I’m balancing that with bonus points for distinctiveness.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 83
Tried this one blind and was completely bluffed. My score is even higher. It looks like an old brora.
Even with a relatively lower score than others, John’s write-up and Mars’ comment — coupled with an attractive price point — make this one sound like it’s worth a try!
Your “relatively lower” is also relative. I just checked to see if Serge reviewed it, and he gave it an 81. Just sayin’…
John, my bad! My comment was referring to “other” varieties you’ve reviewed of late, not that your review was “relatively lower” than those from other reviewers of the Ledaig. My point was that even with a score lower than other malts of late, your commentary along with that of Mars…and attractive pricing…makes it one I want to try! Sorry for the confusion on my part…probably should have had that second cup of coffee before posting!
Yeah, whenever I blog before my second cup of coffee I always take a risk of saying something incoherent.
Hi there,
good you wrote coffee
and yes, you did write cup…
anyway, the relaunch of the Burn Stewart malts Tobermory Ledaig Bunnhabhain and Deanston as non chill-filtered versions seem to have taken their clue from the Tobermory 15yo
(example here http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/product.asp?pf_id=0010000038668) which has 46.3% abv.
Afaik all the new versions of the above mentinoned standard OB malts have this abv.
Greetings
kallaskander
As I commented in the Bunnahabhain review: I can’t wait for these!
I hope they arrive here sooner rather than later.
I used to drink the ledaig NAS.
John ,how does this compare?
Can’t help you with that one. Sorry.
The olive brine beef jerky suggestions sound promising– How would you describe the texture and weight, John?
Good weight to it. I just thought it was a tad youthful (perhaps even a bit raw) for a 10 year old.
This is a very nice dram. Had some time ago and just purchased a new bottle of it.
Totally agree that it feels ‘younger’ than a 10YO, even the very pale colour throws you off, but it still is nice in the palate and on the nose.
I like this one very much.
I just picked up a bottle, but the ABV is 43%, so it must the be old release? I like the flavor but have a hard time getting past the strong rubbery nose.
Looking forward to trying this new release. I really liked the older one for its interesting character: hints of garbage – but in a good way…
Looking forward to this one as well – have a Chieftians 32 YO Ledaig and I love it – wonder what different 22 years makes?
Old ledaig are quite different.
I tryed a 12 year old ledaig from dun bheagan recently and it was in the same style as the 10 years old OB. Still, the OB is much better.
The nose is very farmy with hints of new make. You have to like farmy whisky to like this one.
I must say that most of the time I don’t like my whisky too peated (the ardbeg ten or lagavulin 16 is really awfull for me. But on the other hand I like the lagavulin 12 CS and the ardbeg airigh nam beist or ardbeg from the sixties)
The new Ledaig doesn’t have any of the offnotes I used to find in Ledaig/Tobermory 8-10 years ago and which made me avoid the distillery for some years. A distillery visit in 2009 made me change that. I guess the distillery has a “period of production” to avoid, just like Bowmore has (at least for me)
I got no precise data but it seems like anything destilled after 1999 should be ok, this could be an interesting field to research
Never had an old Tobermory/Ledaig (25+) I didnt like
Steffen
I have been through the Isle of Mull, you take a ferry from Oban. It was a rocky and sea sick kind of ride. Ledaig from my point of view is one if those smaller distilleries that remind me of the old town Mom and Pop stores. I have inmy collection the 15yr, 20yr, and the sherry wood finish. I buy them for the memory really. The sherry wood is my favorite. I will always be a Speysider, however having something from everywhere is great too, still out of 136 bottles currently, still not one ardbeg
I’m waiting for something to really bring that wow factor. Thanks for all your continued efforts John, I had the chance to run in to you breifly at the WF 2010 SF and it blew my mind. I now no im a Glenrothes and Balvenie for Life. Recently I have been tracking down everything Aberlour. Question: How would you rate the 1969 vintage, if youve had te chance to try it? Matt