Ledaig 2005 (LMDW)

This Ledaig was an independent La Maison du Whisky bottling matured to 15 year old from 2005, drawn from cask 900037 and bottled at 64.8%. A release of 456 bottles. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. Water comes from the Gearr Abhainn, a private hill loch above the town of Tobermory.

The spirit was drawn off stills with their S shaped lyne arms, from peated malt, for a heavily peated island spirit. A sherry butt held it, sherry and smoke twining together. Around the mid teens the smoke knits with dried fruit and a sea salt. Sea air works into the island maturation, lending Ledaig its briny, coastal edge. In dry summers the distillery has paused when its hill loch ran low. The distillery sits at the head of the bay, beneath a steep wooded hill. Both malts feed the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle blends as well as single malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 64.8%, it is intense. A sooty smoke with tar and brine, and the Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with sea salt. A long, peaty finish smoulders to the end. This is Ledaig's smoky, maritime single malt.