Ledaig 8 Year Old 2007 Beacon Spirits

Beacon Spirits is a new Belgian player on the market of independent bottlers, founded by Patrick Proth. The labels launched with a couple of nice releases such as a Ledaig 2007, Caol Ila 2007, Speyside Finest 1975 (!) and Invergordon 1973 (a joint bottling with Liquid Art, another fairly new Belgian bottler, but more about them later). Then there is also a Cherry Spirit 2003, a German spirit from cherries that matured for 9 years. Interesting! But let us start with the Ledaig 2007, there firstborn. For me it is the 25th encounter with this peated Tobermory.

A sweet and mildly smoky nose on apples, melon, lemon and honey. Hint of stable. A touch plasticine, even. A bit of smoked bacon. Oysters and olive oil. Ah, Ledaig the way I like it.

Lovely arrival, nicely oily and a touch piquant. Ashes, tar, pepper, citrus fruit of all kinds (grapefruit in the lead), mackerel with a salty edge. But it also remains very sweet as if from candy sugar. Really good! And it absolutely needs no water at all.

The finish is long, warm and smoke with more citrus than anticipated.

Dangerously quaffable Ledaig and one of the best I have tried so far. Available from their website at 65 EUR. Thx, Bert!

Find where to buy Ledaig whisky