Ledaig 2008 (Old Particular) (48.4% UK)

A Ledaig single malt, bottled by Douglas Laing matured to 12 year old from 2008, drawn from cask DL 14561 and bottled at 48.4%. Only 298 bottles were released. Ledaig is the smoky side of Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull, one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. It is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, and the only one on its island.

It was 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. Mid age brings a deeper, sweeter smoke and a maritime lift. Years in oak round the smoke while the medicinal, tarry notes mellow. The town of Tobermory was laid out by the British Fisheries Society a decade before the distillery came. The distillery's history is broken by long silences; its buildings once stored a local cheddar. Burn Stewart revived production in 1993, and Distell bought the distillery in 2013.

At cask strength 48.4% it is muscular. 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. The close is long, smoke over a sweet fruit. This is a bold, peated island single malt.