Ledaig 2009 UD (UD – bottler)

A Ledaig single malt, an independent UD - bottler bottling, a 15 year old from 2009, drawn from cask 700274 and bottled at 55.7%. A release of 120 bottles. Ledaig is the smoky side of Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull, one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. Water comes from the Gearr Abhainn, a private hill loch above the town of Tobermory.

The spirit was distilled from malt peated to around thirty seven parts per million, building the bold, smoky Ledaig style. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, a light sweetness under the peat. Around the mid teens the smoke knits with dried fruit and a sea salt. The cool, damp island air gives a slow, even maturation. The town of Tobermory was laid out by the British Fisheries Society a decade before the distillery came. The distillery's history is broken by long silences; its buildings once stored a local cheddar.

At a hearty 55.7% it carries real weight. Wood smoke, BBQ char and a coastal salt, and ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla and a light sweetness. It is bold and coastal, the peat and soot to the fore. The close is long, smoke over a sweet fruit. This is a heavily peated malt from Mull's only distillery.