Ledaig 2009 HMcD (The House of MacDuff)

This Ledaig was picked by The House of MacDuff, a 12 year old island malt from 2009, drawn from cask CM 285 and bottled at 56.6%. The outturn was 261 bottles. 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 distilled from peated malt in kinked copper stills on soft Mull water, giving a sooty, coastal peat smoke over a fruity sweetness. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, a light sweetness under the peat. Mid age brings a deeper, sweeter smoke and a maritime lift. Refill oak lets the peat and brine of Ledaig lead. A rare, more heavily peated make has appeared under the name Iona, after a neighbouring isle. In dry summers the distillery has paused when its hill loch ran low. The distillery sits at the head of the bay, beneath a steep wooded hill.

At cask strength 56.6% it is muscular. Peat smoke, brine and a medicinal note, and vanilla and a soft oak come from the bourbon wood. A BBQ char and a sea salt lift it. A long, peaty finish smoulders to the end. This is Ledaig, the peated malt of the Isle of Mull.