Ledaig 9 yo 2004/2013 Old Malt Cask ref 10058 vs Ledaig 12 yo 2004/2017 The Whisky Lounge
Ledaig is an excellent heavily peated whisky that is bound to surprise those only familiar with Islay. We even have an accomplished Ledaig collector on our little tropical island, whose dedication to completeness frightens me a little. Actually I really ought to drink more Ledaig as it is represents one of the last real pockets of bang-for-buck left in this whisky world.
These early 2000s Ledaigs are splendid whiskies. Young but always technically sound. I don’t think I have ever had a less than impressive young Ledaig, not counting some of the heavily sherried ones I am not particularly fond of. Here are two 2004s, expect good things.
Ledaig 9 yo 2004/2013 Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask ref 10058 50%
This was sold as a small 200ml ‘Advance Sample’ by Hunter Laing some years back, where some shops in the UK had shelves of these. Seemed quite gimmicky at the time but I love the sample bottles…
Nose: Yes. A young peat monster that is ‘technically perfect’ without any flaws or off notes. You even get the feeling this >2000s distillation was meant to make an early maturing whisky. On the nose – huge ppm, it’s a thick and earthy, broken roots, decomposing mulch kind of peat, though it’s not overtly smokey, more earthy-medicinal. Buttered toast, young malt and breakfast cereal. Poached pears, raw ginger. Shadowed by a high toned menthol and hints of salt. Get your peat fix here.
Palate: Exactly that. Peaty ashy smokey hot embers glowing firewood, then new malt, white heat, ginger juice and pepper. I will say the body on these Ledaigs seem somewhat less weighty than Lagavulin or Laphroaig of the same age, doesn’t quite dominate the middle of your tongue with it’s ‘raw character’ like these other 2 Ls would at the same age. This seems a leaner and cleaner whisky where the dirty herbals of the Lagavulin or the heavy medicine of the Laphroaig would be shouting right now. Maybe that’s why it’s ready early? On to the finish, not the most development, but great at 9 years.
Finish: Medium, moves on quickly, smoke ash embers, it’s the remnants of the peat talking here.
Ledaig 12 yo 2004/2017 The Whisky Lounge 58.1%
Definitely a shared cask, as the bottler only received 30 bottles.
Nose: And what does 3 more years do? Not much at all it seems. Virtually identical to the Douglas Laing in all the main markers, except a bigger Chardonnay chalk and mineral flint-iness, maybe more citric and an ounce more cream from the buttery oak. Otherwise the family resemblance is pronounced.
Palate: Much like the Hunter Laing again, but wait.. the oak is more pronounced here. No, more development too – Menthol chest rub, hot with a white spicy heat, Tabasco, pressed limes and a bitter herbal sting like oxalic acid. Salty even, clean brine. Very precise and lean. ‘Sharp’ we would say. Again, overall very similar to its cousin.
Finish: Medium, peat, ash, some big acid and pepper.
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