Ledaig 2005 RW&W Snowden’s Reserve The Dramatic Dram (Regensburger Whisky- & Weinclub)

A Ledaig single malt, released by Regensburger Whisky- & Weinclub, an 8 year old island malt from 2005 and bottled at 57.7%. Just 252 bottles were filled. Ledaig is the peated malt made at Tobermory on Mull, a distillery founded as Ledaig in 1798. Its history is famously broken, with long silences; the buildings once held holiday lets and stored cheese.

Worked through high reflux stills from peated malt, for the smoky, maritime spirit Ledaig is known for. A sherry butt held it, sherry and smoke twining together. Younger here, the peat runs bold over a sweet, fruity core. 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 57.7%, it is powerful. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and raisin and a nutty sherry depth build. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. The close is long, smoke over a sweet fruit. This is a bold, peated island single malt.