Ledaig Batch 11 (TBWC)

That Boutique-y Whisky Company selected this Ledaig, aged 21 year old and bottled at 48.7%. 954 bottles in all. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. It is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, and the only one on its island.

It was worked through high reflux stills from peated malt, for the smoky, maritime spirit Ledaig is known for. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, a vanilla sweetness beneath the smoke. At this age it is mellow and oily, the smoke folded into a rich body. Years in oak round the smoke while the medicinal, tarry notes mellow. Mull's maritime climate works into the maturing casks over the years. It is one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland still working. Tobermory has distilled in the island's harbour town since 1798. The town of Tobermory was laid out by the British Fisheries Society a decade before the distillery came.

Undiluted at 48.7%, it is powerful. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla and a light sweetness. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. It closes long, smoky and briny. This is a bold, peated island single malt.