Ledaig 1997/2010 13 Year Old Malts of Scotland

This Ledaig came from the warehouses of Malts of Scotland (German Indie). It was distilled on 24th March 1997 and bottled in October 2010 after a maturation of 13 years in a bourbon hogshead. The cask had a yield of 303 bottles (and some miniatures). I got this sample from a special box with 6 Malts of Scotland whiskies in tubes of 2,5cl, that I bought in The Hague in Holland.

Ah, the nose meets the expectations. Very peaty and farmy. A little earthy, too. If I were to taste this blind, I might easily have mistaken it for an Ileach (it reminds me quite a bit of Caol Ila, in fact). After the initial whiff, some more aromas emerge: gas station (diesel vapours) and a touch of seaweed. But I also get white fruits such as apples and pears. Very complex and utterly enjoyable nose. Adding a few drops of water highlights the fruit, but also brings out chalk and charcoal.

The whisky gives you a kick to the teeth, because of the high ABV. I'm reminded of a beach barbecue. Adding water (which is not a bad thing, I find, even though it's drinkable undiluted), makes it sweeter and suppresses the maritime aromas somewhat.

The finish is very long and ends in a salty note (undiluted). With a bit of water, the finish remains warm and lingering.

While my first Ledaig (an 1993 8 Year Old from Signatory) left me in doubt a bit, this one completely restored my faith. This Ledaig is one helluva whisky!

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