Ledaig 1998 WM Barrel Selection (Wilson & Morgan)

Wilson & Morgan bottled this Ledaig, a 13 year old release from 1998 and bottled at 46%. Only 1344 bottles were released. Ledaig, the peated malt of Mull's only distillery, keeps the old name the distillery bore when John Sinclair founded it in 1798. Ledaig, the old name kept for the peated malt, means safe haven in Gaelic.

It was worked through high reflux stills from peated malt, for the smoky, maritime spirit Ledaig is known for. Maturation in sherry laid dried fruit over the peat. Mid age brings a deeper, sweeter smoke and a maritime lift. Coastal warehousing lends a mineral, sea spray lift to the smoke. 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. The distillery was refurbished and its stills renewed between 2017 and 2019.

At an easy 46% it is gentle. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and the Oloroso gives dried fruit and a toasted nuttiness. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. The finish runs smoky, sweet and warm. This is a bold, peated island single malt.