Ledaig 2009 MM (Murray McDavid)

Murray McDavid selected this Ledaig, a 15 year old island malt from 2009, drawn from cask 2100646 and bottled at 52.9%. Just 283 bottles were filled. Ledaig, the peated malt of Mull's only distillery, keeps the old name the distillery bore when John Sinclair founded it in 1798. The distillery was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair, a local kelp merchant, as the Ledaig distillery.

The spirit was worked through high reflux stills from peated malt, for the smoky, maritime spirit Ledaig is known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the peat lead. By this age the peat rounds into a sweeter, coastal smoke. Years in oak round the smoke while the medicinal, tarry notes mellow. Both malts feed the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle blends as well as single malt. The distillery was refurbished and its stills renewed between 2017 and 2019. Mull's maritime climate works into the maturing casks over the years.

At cask strength 52.9% it is muscular. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. It closes long, smoky and briny. This is a bold, peated island single malt.