Ledaig 2001 MM (Murray McDavid)

Murray McDavid bottled this Ledaig, aged 21 year old from 2001, drawn from cask 800117 and bottled at 52.7%. 213 bottles in all. Ledaig is the heavily peated single malt of Tobermory distillery, the only distillery on the Isle of Mull, founded in 1798. Burn Stewart revived the distillery in 1993, and Distell of South Africa bought it in 2013.

The spirit was worked through high reflux stills from peated malt, for the smoky, maritime spirit Ledaig is known for. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, a light sweetness under the peat. Long ageing brings a soft, sweet smoke, dried fruit and a coastal salt. Coastal warehousing lends a mineral, sea spray lift to the smoke. The stills carry boil bulbs and a kink in the lyne arms, which lifts the reflux. Water is drawn from a private hill loch, the Gearr Abhainn, above the town. Its painted home town gives the unpeated malt its name. A rare, more heavily peated make has appeared under the name Iona, after a neighbouring isle.

At a natural 52.7% it is bold and full. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and vanilla and a soft oak come from the bourbon wood. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. The finish runs smoky, sweet and warm. This is a bold, peated island single malt.