Ledaig 2007 MBl (Meadowside Blending) (53.9%)

This is a Ledaig, released by Meadowside Blending, a 12 year old island malt from 2007, drawn from cask 700644 and bottled at 53.9%. Only 305 bottles were released. Ledaig is the peated malt made at Tobermory on Mull, a distillery founded as Ledaig in 1798. Ledaig, the old name kept for the peated malt, means safe haven in Gaelic.

It was made in the kinked copper stills from peated barley, for a smoky, tarry make with a sweet core. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, a vanilla sweetness beneath the smoke. Around the mid teens the smoke knits with dried fruit and a sea salt. Sherry wood and peat smoke twine together, dried fruit meeting soot. The distillery was refurbished and its stills renewed between 2017 and 2019. 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.

At 53.9%, undiluted, it is rich and deep. Peat, iodine and a fruity sweetness, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. A sweet fruit and a medicinal note sit under the smoke. Soot and brine see out a long finish. This is the smoky side of Tobermory distillery.