Ledaig 2011 HeoM (Heaven of Malts)

From Heaven of Malts comes this Ledaig, a 10 year old from 2011 and bottled at 59.5%. Only 108 bottles were released. Made on the Isle of Mull, Ledaig is the heavily peated malt of the island's only distillery. The stills carry boil bulbs and an S shaped kink in the lyne arms, which raises reflux.

Worked through high reflux stills from peated malt, for the smoky, maritime spirit Ledaig is known for. A sherry cask wrapped the smoke in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Younger here, the peat runs bold over a sweet, fruity core. Coastal warehousing lends a mineral, sea spray lift to the smoke. 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. Both malts feed the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle blends as well as single malt.

At a hearty 59.5% it carries real weight. A maritime smoke over ripe fruit, and sherried dried fruit and a nutty edge come through. Soft smoke and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. It finishes smoky, salty and warming. This is a bold, peated island single malt.