Ledaig 2008 WIN (Whisky Import Nederland)

This is a Ledaig, released by Whisky Import Nederland, aged 7 year old from 2008, drawn from cask 700694 and bottled at 60.7%. 220 bottles in all. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. The single malts are bottled without chill filtration at 46.3 percent or higher.

Made in the kinked copper stills from peated barley, for a smoky, tarry make with a sweet core. Maturation in sherry laid dried fruit over the peat. At this age the smoke is fierce and ashy, the brine and medicinal note sharp. 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 cask strength 60.7% it is muscular. Peat, iodine and a fruity sweetness, and the Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth. 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.