Ledaig 2005 (Signatory) (64.9%)

From Signatory Vintage comes this Ledaig, a 17 year old from 2005, drawn from cask 900043 and bottled at 64.9%. The outturn was 463 bottles. 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. A sherry cask wrapped the smoke in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Mid age brings a deeper, sweeter smoke and a maritime lift. Coastal warehousing lends a mineral, sea spray lift to the smoke. 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. Mull's maritime climate works into the maturing casks over the years.

At a hearty 64.9% it carries real weight. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and the Oloroso adds figgy fruit and a warm nuttiness. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. It finishes smoky, salty and warming. This is a bold, peated island single malt.