Ledaig 2005 (Signatory) (57.3% Germany)

A Ledaig single malt, an independent Signatory Vintage bottling matured to 11 year old from 2005, drawn from cask 900154 and bottled at 57.3%. 653 bottles in all. 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. A sherry butt held it, sherry and smoke twining together. Still young, it is smoky and briny with a sweet lift. The cool, damp island air gives a slow, even maturation. 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. Water is drawn from a private hill loch, the Gearr Abhainn, above the town.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.3%, it is intense. Wood smoke, BBQ char and a coastal salt, and the Oloroso lends raisin, walnut and a dried fruit richness. 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.