Ledaig 2011 TWJ (The Whisky Jury)

Single malt Ledaig, bottled by The Whisky Jury, a 14 year old release from 2011, drawn from cask 6987 and bottled at 56%. Only 317 bottles were released. Ledaig is the smoky side of Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull, one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. The distillery was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair, a local kelp merchant, as the Ledaig distillery.

The spirit was made in the kinked copper stills from peated barley, for a smoky, tarry make with a sweet core. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, a vanilla sweetness beneath the smoke. Mid age brings a deeper, sweeter smoke and a maritime lift. Sherry wood and peat smoke twine together, dried fruit meeting soot. 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. The distillery was refurbished and its stills renewed between 2017 and 2019.

Undiluted at 56%, it is powerful. Peat, iodine and a fruity sweetness, and the bourbon cask adds vanilla and a gentle honey. A sweet fruit and a medicinal note sit under the smoke. The finish is deep, tarry and sweet. This is the smoky side of Tobermory distillery.