Ledaig 1995 WN (WhiskyNerds)

WhiskyNerds selected this Ledaig, a 24 year old island malt from 1995, drawn from cask 128 and bottled at 46.4%. Just 102 bottles were filled. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. The stills carry boil bulbs and an S shaped kink in the lyne arms, which raises reflux.

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. At this age it is mellow and oily, the smoke folded into a rich body. The cool, damp island air gives a slow, even maturation. The distillery's history is broken by long silences; its buildings once stored a local cheddar. Burn Stewart revived production in 1993, and Distell bought the distillery in 2013. The stills carry boil bulbs and a kink in the lyne arms, which lifts the reflux.

At its natural 46.4% it is concentrated. Wood smoke, BBQ char and a coastal salt, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. It is bold and coastal, the peat and soot to the fore. It closes long, smoky and briny. This is a heavily peated malt from Mull's only distillery.