Ledaig 2011 Cl (Claxton’s)

This Ledaig was from the independent bottler Claxton's, a 10 year old from 2011, drawn from cask C22045 and bottled at 55.5%. A release of 74 bottles. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. The distillery was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair, a local kelp merchant, as the Ledaig distillery.

The spirit was distilled from peated malt in kinked copper stills on soft Mull water, giving a sooty, coastal peat smoke over a fruity sweetness. Maturation in sherry laid dried fruit over the peat. At a youthful age the smoke is vigorous and coastal. Refill oak lets the peat and brine of Ledaig lead. The stills carry boil bulbs and a kink in the lyne arms, which lifts the reflux. Water is drawn from a private hill loch, the Gearr Abhainn, above the town. Its painted home town gives the unpeated malt its name. A rare, more heavily peated make has appeared under the name Iona, after a neighbouring isle.

At 55.5%, undiluted, it is rich and deep. Peat smoke, brine and a medicinal note, and the Oloroso lends raisin, walnut and a dried fruit richness. A BBQ char and a sea salt lift it. A long, peaty finish smoulders to the end. This is Ledaig, the peated malt of the Isle of Mull.