2005 Ledaig 17 Year Old "Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur's Choice" K&L Exclusive Cask #18600201 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Liquid amber in color and boasting a nose equally full of fruit, charcuterie meats, and candied smoke. This is a Ledaig like we haven’t seen in ages. Active clean sherry without a trace of sulfur really lets the fullness of the malt shine. First the fruit: crisp apple, dried orange peel, apricots, hoshigaki, and fruit leather - it smells ripe and sweet. The meatiness is intertwined with the fruit and the smoke, an array of cured and smoked meats. Applewood smoked ham hock comes to mind almost immediately. Candied and smoked nuts make the transition into more pronounced peat smoke, but that really shines once you get the whisky on your palate. The wood and malt are so evenly matched it is difficult at times to tease apart which is contributing which flavors. The palate is thick, a blanket of fresh peat and cold ash, saddle leather, and abundant ripe fruit. A blush of cool mint and dewy grass add lift and freshness. It goes on for days and yet you can’t help but go back for more. Salted nuts slowly candied in honey and a kiss of sea spray top it all off. Proof positive that G&M still hold some of the finest whisky stocks in Scotland.

The peated malt from the gorgeous Tobermory distillery is known as Ledaig. It's not just the same whisky with peated barley, but utilizes specific fermentation and distillation times to create one of Scotlands most intensely flavored spirits. It's for that reason and maybe some issues with cask management over the years that Ledaig has a bit of a love hate relationship for some peat lovers. But when you get a great one it's absolutely undeniable. This is one of those barrels. Full term in high quality (and active) refill sherry with some of Mull's finest. Stupendous! Let's taste it. The color is a splendid Chestnut! On first nosing big meaty sooty smoke at first. With a bit of air -this one needs air- we move distinctly into the old leather, kippers, sweet orange zest, marmite, apricot jam on pumpernickel, burnt raisins. On the palate it's perfectly salty, savory and sweet. Almost no sulfur but so much leathery smoke, it's unbelievable. The long finish offers deep billowing ashy smoke along side powerful baking spices and nutty oloroso notes. This is truly a special whisky and highly undervalued thanks to our amazing relationship with Gordon & Macphail. Only rivaled as an exclusive Ledaig by the MUCH more controversial and divisive Chieftain's 21 year, but this one is so much easier to love. An easy slam dunk for any peat lover and an absolute must have for Ledaig people.