Ledaig Rioja Cask Finish

“Safe Haven is a Place on Earth”

Whisky Review # 1018

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands - Islands - Mull

Brand: Ledaig Rioja Cask Finish - Sinclair Series

Distilled at: Tobermory Distillery

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.3%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Casks with Finish in Spanish Rioja Red Wine Casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price range: US$ 38-50 (April 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 👍 If you like peated Malt with a Red Wine Finish!

Color:

Light Chestnut with shades of Brown and Orange  (Natural Color)

Nose:

Young and a little Thin. The label mentions that heavily peated Barley is used but this Ledaig is certainly not a Peat monster. The Nose is quite Ashy though and ever so slightly Medicinal. The Rioja casks are noticeable bringing both Sweet and Sour Fruity notes. The Ledaig dirtiness comes through with images of an older gas station. The Nose is not bad but a bit underwhelming. There are a few off-notes but none of them are serious.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, slightly burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Earthy Peat, Industrial Smoke, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Dates & Plums, Red Fruit Preserve, Charred Oak, Sour Red Wine, Ashes, Pepper and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Molasses, Vanilla, Grass, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate, Sour Cherries, Band Aid, Soot, Tar, Gas station, Plastic, Rubber, Burnt Matches, Iron, Leather, Green Apple, Lemon, Peanut Butter, Cow Manure, Smoked Bacon, Sweaty Feet, Licorice and Cinnamon.

 

Palate:

This is my favorite part of this Ledaig. It's a little Young, Rough, Tannic & Funky but it shows character that would certainly evolve with more cask time. On the Palate we have a rather Dry mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour and Salty notes with lots of Berries, Nuts and Chocolate.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Factory Smoke, Earthy Peat, Ash,  Red Berries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums and Apricots, Sour Red Wine, Lemon and Grapefruit, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Aniseed and Licorice.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Molasses, Sour Cherries, Dark Hazelnut Chocolate, Nougat, Mix of Straw & Cow Manure, Leather, Tobacco, Tar, Soot, Dried Herbs, Wet Rocks, Milk, Cooked Vegetables, Cinnamon, Ginger and Cloves.

Finish:

Medium-Long & slightly Hot. After a while a mix of some Rubber and Iron notes stay a little longer in your throat. I find Sweet, Bitter, Sour and Salty notes. Quite Dry & Tannic towards the end. There's Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Apricots, Tutti-Frutti Bubblegum, slightly Sour Red Berries and Red Wine, Ashes, Tar, Factory Smoke, Earthy Peat, Nuts, Dried Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Grapefruit, Lemon, Strong Espresso, Wet Rocks, Charred Oak, Tobacco, Rubber, Licorice, Hay, Rubber, Pepper, Ginger and Cloves.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Ledaig. Better enjoy it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but on the Young side

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion:

Ledaig means Safe Haven. It's the name of the peated expressions of Tobermory. The core range of the distillery now includes the Tobermory 12, the Ledaig 10 & 18 Years as well as the Ledaig Rioja Finish I'm reviewing today.

This expression was inspired by the story of a Spanish galleon that sank off the harbour of Tobermory more than 400 years ago. The vessel was said to have been laden with jewels. This Ledaig was finished in hand-selected Rioja casks in honor of the Spanish treasure buried off the Tobermory shoreline. The Sinclair series are named after the founder of the distillery John Sinclair (1798).

This affordable Rioja Finish might be a good introduction to the Ledaig Single Malt portfolio. It's a little Dirty but not that Dirty, it's a little Dry but not that Dry, it's a little Smoky but not that Smoky and the Rioja casks provide sufficient Sweet and Sour Fruity notes to please beginning Single Malt adepts. It's a little too Young for my taste and there are a few off-notes that show the unfinished character of this Ledaig. But at least it does show some youthful character, especially on the Palate. If you find it under US$ 50 you should give it a go unless you're not into peated Whisky with a Red Wine Finish.

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 25, 2024

Ledaig 10 Years Review - Ledaig 18 Years Review

“Ledaig Special”

The Tobermory Distillery was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair on the beautiful island of Mull. It was called Tobermory until it closed in 1930. When it opened again in 1972, the name was changed to Ledaig. In the year 1993 the distillery was bought by Burn Stewart and in 2002 the company decided to use the name Tobermory both for the distillery and for the unpeated Malt and Ledaig for the peated Malt. In 2017 the distillery closed for refurbishing. It is expected that things will be ready by the end of this year or the beginning of 2019. About half of the yearly production is Tobermory and half is Ledaig. We visited the distillery in May 2017, right after it closed. We were the only visitors at the time but nevertheless the guide gave us one of the best distillery tours! Appreciated!

At the moment, the distillery possesses two pairs of stills that produce around 750.000 litres per year. The core range is very small and consists of the 10 and 18 Year old Ledaig and the 10 year Tobermory although the latter can only be bought at the distillery at the moment. Some of the distillery output is used in the Scottish Leader Blend. Since 2013, Tobermory is owned by the South African Distell Group Ltd that also controls Bunnahabhain and Deanston.

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Whisky Review # 724

Country: Scotland

Region: Highlands - Islands - Mull

Brand: Ledaig (Gaelic for Safe Haven)
Distillery: Tobermory 

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years 

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.3%
Maturation: Bourbon casks  
Chill Filtration: No        
Price Range: US$ 45-55 (May 2018).
Buying Advice: 😉 I like it but it may not be for everybody. Read the notes!

Colour: 

Light Golden (Possibly Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Sweet Peat is the first impression. Different Peat as in Islay Malts. It's somewhat dirty, more like Springbank or Jura. The Nose is rather Light, a little Musty and it's not all Sweet. I pick up a few Sour aromas as well as a bit of Sulphur. Are there a few Sherry casks in the mix? Despite the variety of Aromas, it somehow works out in a reasonably balanced way.

Main Aromas:

Toasted Cereals, Burnt Buttered Toast, Straw mixed with Cow Manure, Hospital, Dirty Earth, Grass, Salted Smoked Kipper, Bacon, Lemon, Salted Peanuts, Green Apple, Slightly Sour Grapes and Cocoa Powder.    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Factory Smoke, Diesel, Iodine, Wet Stone, Rubber, Floral Perfume, Dried Fruit, Herbal Tea, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cheese Spread and Leather.   

Palate:

The delivery is less strong than I expected given the adequate ABV. On the Palate, the Ledaig 10 Years is mainly Bitter-Sweet although there are a few Sour notes as well. It's a little Dirty, Meaty and Edgy but I am comfortable with that.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Burnt Toast, Dirty Earth, Ashes, Tar, Smoked Fish/Shellfish, Iodine, Brine, Lemon, PVC Pipes, Pepper, Ginger, Herbal Tea, Wet Rocks, Green Apple and slightly Sour Grapes.           

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Grass, Straw, Bacon, Charred Oak, Aniseed, Sulphur, Leather, Cocoa Powder and Seville Oranges.  

Finish:

Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and slightly Sour towards the Dry end. Dirty Earth, Salted Caramel, Smoked Fish, Ashes, Brine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Herbal Tea , Cocoa Powder, Cereals, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cloves, PVC Pipes,  Tar, Tobacco, Licorice and Mint are the Flavours and Flavour accents that I pick up.   

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that changes the Nose completely. It becomes more friendly but also rather Lemony. I get Banana Ice-Cream as well. I don't think this is the way Ledaig is supposed to smell. But that's me! On the Palate the Dirty Smoke develops together with the Spices. I prefer to sip it neat but you can certainly add a few drops to this Ledaig. 

Rating: 85

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20.5  - Overall: 21.5 

Drinking Experience:

Good. A little Dirty and Rough but I kinda like it.

Conclusion:

This Ledaig 10 might require a somewhat acquired taste. It's certainly not for everybody to be sure. It's not a mainstream Malt and it's different from your regular peated standard Islay Malts. But if you like Springbank, and I do, you can safely buy a bottle of this Ledaig 10 Years. It's a little Dirty and Edgy but it's also just what the doctor ordered after a long morning stroll on the beautiful isle of Mull. It should go very well with some Oysters or Mussels at lunch! Looking at the pictures we took during our visit to Mull last year makes me wanna go back tomorrow!

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Whisky Review # 725

Country: Scotland

Region: Highlands - Islands - Mull

Brand: Ledaig
Distillery: Tobermory 

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 18 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.3%
Maturation: Bourbon Casks with Spanish Sherry Wood Finish   
Chill Filtration: No       
Price Range: US$ 90-120  (May 2018).
Buying Advice: 😉 Very interesting Single Malt. Give it a try!

Colour: 

Golden (Possibly Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

When compared to the Rebel 10 Years, the 18 Years is more of a Gentleman on the Nose. The Peat is more subdued and the Sherry Cask Finish is noticeable. Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes are reasonably well-balanced. The Alcohol is there. 

Main Aromas:

Toasted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Dirty Earth, Hospital, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Apricots, Orange, Apple, light Smoke, Dried Herbs, Salted Caramel, Plastic, Milk Chocolate, Smoked Meat/Fish and Pepper.       

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Farmyard, Straw, Grass, White Grapes, Salted Peanuts, Leather, Tar, Oak Char, Rubber, Ashes, Cheese and Caffe Latte.    

Palate:

Good delivery thanks to the adequate ABV. A bit more of the Ledaig "Dirt" at this moment in time. Peat and other "Islay" elements come to the forefront. An interesting combination of Sweet, Bitter, Sour and Salty notes. Quite Dry. 

Main Flavours:

Toasted Cereals, Dirty Earth, Cold Smoke, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Brine, Dried Herbs, Salted Caramel, PVC Pipes, Dried Fruit, Orange, Grapefruit, Smoked Meat Licorice and Pepper. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Oak Char, Strong Espresso, Tobacco, Milk Chocolate, Nutmeg, Aniseed, Heather Honey and Wild Fruit Jam.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour and Salty notes towards the Dry end. Not as clean as the Nose unfortunately. I find Dirty Earth, Smoke, Cigar Ashes, Tar, Rubber, Brine, Licorice, Bitter Orange/Mandarin, Oak, Cocoa Powder, Salted Peanuts, Raspberry Jam, Toasted Cereals, Pepper and Nutmeg.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and the Nose becomes even more friendly. Apple, Orange and Dried Fruits develop. The Coastal elements make themselves known as well. Palate and Finish do not change a whole lot although the Cigar Ashes seem to stay longer with you. I liked it both ways. You can certainly experiment with a few drops.

Rating: 85.5 

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5 

Drinking Experience:

Good. 

Conclusion:

I thoroughly enjoyed this Ledaig session. This Single Malt deserves more credit than it usually gets. I scored the pair of them in a similar way although the malts are completely different. The 10 Years is the "Dirty Rebel" and the 18 Years is the "Dirty Gentleman". The 10 Years is really Dirty and Edgy and stand its own when compared to its Islay peers. The 18 Years is more sophisticated and the Sherry Finish gives it some additional Fruit. Both Malts show character and can't be called mainstream by any standards. This might scare off some but should attract many others. This tasting session has certainly got me curious to try out some Independent Ledaig bottlings. As far as I'm concerned, Tobermory can restart its production tomorrow!

The Pictures were taken during our visit in 2017