Saturday, 2 March 2019

Side by side: Ledaig from Mull & Glasgow?

Looking at three different drams from the peated Ledaig range, one from @DouglasMcgibbon and two from @TobDistillery, the 9yo, 10yo and 18yo - what differences are there?


Ledaig is the peated whisky distilled at the Tobermory Distillery on the Hebridean Isle of Mull, They split their distilling year into 50% peated and 50% unpeated. These three drams are from the peated 50% and range in age from 9 to 18 years. The 9yo was bottled by Douglas McGibbon (sister company of Douglas Laing) so may well have been matured in a different part of Scotland, probably Glasgow, from the other two.

Dram9yo Douglas McGibbon Single Cask Providence10yo 18yo Batch #3 Spanish Sherry Wood Finish
Characteristics46% ABV, Non-coloured, NCF, Single Cask46.3% ABV, Non-coloured, BCF46.3% ABV, Non-coloured, NCF
Distillery infoNose: Distinctly maritime in style as it opens on the nose softening to a crushed sugar and coffee style.

Palate: The palate is softly peated, lightly tarred with a late sweet hue prevalent.

Finish: All of which roll over onto the smokey and oceanic finish replicating much of what has gone on before.
Nose: Sweet briny smokiness with distinct island character and playful notes that hint at mild antiseptic, creosote, wax polish, mint chocolate and floral seaside aromas. Soft peat, gentle smoke.

Palate: Tantalisingly sweet, medicinal flavours infused with enticing sparks of spicy pepper and dried fruit with rich peaty smoke and a velvety vanilla and malty creaminess.

Finish: A wondrous union of sublimely spicy white pepper, the vibrant sweetness of liquorice and a kick of cloves with a exquisite lingering saltiness.
Nose: Rich, fruity sherried smokiness, lovely balance of phenols, seaweed and light creosote, dried chilli flakes, spicy black pepper with hints of sweet oakiness.

Palate: Powerful rich, sherried, herbal smoky flavours, orange peel, coffee, a touch of sea salt, tobacco and white pepper.

Finish: Long and quite pungent with more smoke, a hint of liquorice and sea spray.
My thoughts: 
Appearance
Pale gold, swirls lead to thick slow legsLight gold, swirls bead up to an inverted crown before falling slowly as thin legsDark gold, swirls bead up to an inverted crown before falling slowly as thin legs
NoseLoads of maritime smoke, some damp hay with hints of citrus - orange & lemon and some strawberry.
An unusual dry smoke from this one.
Again the maritime smoke, damp hay and strawberry but no sign of the citrus.
Hints of honey and rubber bands.
Oh that's unusual!
It's like each nostril is getting something different - one the maritime smoke and the other a dunnage warehouse.
They come together in a bit of an explosion.
PalateThick creamy mouthfeel the smoke dominates with some orchard fruit notes, slightly sour and drying as it goes down the throat.Thick creamy mouthfeel, lots of fruit and a little bite of spice before a blanket of smoke comes in. Hints of salt, raisins and honey with again a slight sour note.Thick and creamy again but immediately spicy - lots of toffee, black cherries and plums then a gentle smoke. Hints of coffee and citrus.
FinishShort with smoky bacon crisps, again drying.Short salty spicy smoky finish with a drying effect like ash from a fire.Long spicy smoky finish with some of the sweetness from the dark fruit.
OverallThe 9yo and 10yo were quite similar and both surprisingly drying. The 18yo, finished in Sherry casks had an obvious nose and palate difference.
All three were lovely drams, a nice alternative to medicinal Islay peated drams.

Thanks to @WhiskyManc, @Bearded_Whisky and @ScotchB78 for the sample swaps!

No comments: