Ledaig 2008 V&M (Valinch & Mallet)

From Valinch & Mallet comes this Ledaig, a 13 year old release from 2008, drawn from cask 700005 and bottled at 52.4%. Only 303 bottles were released. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. 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. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the peat lead. Mid age brings a deeper, sweeter smoke and a maritime lift. Coastal warehousing lends a mineral, sea spray lift to the smoke. 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. The distillery's history is broken by long silences; its buildings once stored a local cheddar.

At a full 52.4% it is intense and layered. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. It finishes smoky, salty and warming. This is a bold, peated island single malt.