Ledaig 20 yo Douglas Murdoch 40% vs Ledaig 21 yo 1973 Hart Brothers 43%

Ledaig 20 yo Douglas Murdoch 40% ~70s distillate

An old school peat cut from the same multicoloured cloth as that spun in Islay circa 1970. Dry dusty peat with black ash, coals and some greasy petrochemical nuances. But this one leans much softer, more elegant perhaps, with calm seaside mannerisms conveying lapping wave sand drying rockpools. By the pier, it’s a fairground with candied apples, toasted marshmallows and puffing diesel generators. Also old books, wet rags, wax cans and empty tins of sugared menthol jujubes which make it warming with a gentle camphorated herbaceousness. Really, a surprising depth. 89 pts

Ledaig 21 yo 1973 Hart Brothers 43%

Feels like a step up in peat and salinity to levels matching what might be distilled along the Kildalton coast. A big and rooty dry peat full of organic material, ash, cold tar, lit coals though not so much a heavily petrochemical or oily style, this being more about fresh composting vegetation and smoke. It’s also lightly medicinal, with a fresh and clean herbaceousness much close to mint bitters rather than pinesap. The sea is crisp and tangy and zings with spray and churned up mud and seaweed. Actually feels a notch simpler but more phenolic. 89 pts