Ledaig ‘Limited Edition for the Year 2000’ 42% vs Ledaig 1975 / 1995 Blackadder #65 56.5%

Ledaig ‘Limited Edition for the Year 2000’ 42%

An unusual one. Zippy salt air, fresh seawater complete with seaweed. Newly pulled nets, fresh catch and fennel. Very seagoing. Now smoking engines, turned earth and shoe polish does appear but its no peaty beast and its all very simple and straightforward so far. To its credit, it remains vibrant despite the abv. Darker sweeter elements like cocoa and dried cherries poke out here and there belatedly but it remains sidelined by the gentle peat. 86 pts

Ledaig 1975 / 1995 Blackadder #65 56.5%

Clearly a step down from the glorious 72s, though the peat does some through thick and textured in parts. The sea here is churned and murky with dirty seawater and muddy boots. The morning’s catch almost forgotten on drying wooden docks, and a lovely buttery fatness and grimy engine oil emerges, bestowing real phenolic depth. Sea worn driftwood, tarred ropes, coal, and a sea soaked packet of pastiles. So not quite a picture of zingy freshness, rather a working fishery at day’s end. A rather different sort of seaside. 90 pts