Ledaig 10 Year

I had much higher expectations for this after hearing so much about it. NEAT NOSE - Every aspect of this whisky can be described as LIGHT and extremely FAINT (even the peat). The aroma is fleeting. It is quite floral, supported by subtle notes of hay, honey, and vanilla. There is also a slight hint of lemon here. PALATE - Silky mouthfeel. Everything detected in the nose is present on the palate, but again, everything here is soft and faint. On a scale of 0-10, all of the notes register at a 2. This is extremely disappointing considering this is unfiltered at 46.3%. If I had to highlight the most prominent notes, I would probably say the hay and vanilla. FINISH - Extremely short. Lemon and a tinge of smoke. BUY? - I would suggest this as an introduction to peated whisky. BUY AGAIN? - Considering alternatives like Port Charlotte 10 and it being around the same price point, I'm not certain if I would repurchase this one. However, I am curious to see if there is any significant batch variation for the better, so who knows.

Nose: It's quite pungent! Very strong chemical scents, damp rain, rubber, and peat. I also detect something savory, like bacon and medicine! It bears some resemblance to Lagavulin. Palate: Very medicinal, unusual, and pungent. It also feels oily. I feel like it doesn't coat all parts of my tongue. It seems to fade, but not in a negative way. I get some peat, herbs, and grassy notes. After some time in the glass, I notice subtle hints of sweetness! It has an earthy quality, like a damp farmyard in the mountains! The finish is brief. However, it's a very intriguing dram! Quite good! It's a strong-smelling whisky that might not appeal to everyone and can be temperamental. But if you're in the mood for it, you'll thoroughly enjoy it!

I observed that the cork on this had a rather loose seal; I'm hoping this doesn't negatively impact it too much. Nose: rich, sweet, smoke, a touch of acridity. Cinnamon, spice, peppery. Sea spray. A little bit of smoked meat. A hint of black cherry? Palate: vanilla, cinnamon, lemon peel, a bit of chili and chocolate. The peat is definitely present but I'm not detecting it quite as much as on the aroma and finish. Almost an herbal anise note as it transitions to the finish, like a whiff of Underberg. Finish: lingering peat phenols, stormy coastal air, and a warmth that starts gentle but builds in intensity in the back of the throat, almost feeling like capsaicin.

I heard the hype on this one and it surely doesn’t disappoint. Ledaig enters in my selection of great whiskies! As the starting point, the cork has the island’s shape, which grabbed my attention. On the nose - immediately I smelled salt caramel. Citrus notes will come along and that maritime coastal breeze. On the palate - Salt caramel with lemon zest. The finish is prolonged with pepper. Maybe ginger, but its definitely a baking spice. Very good whisky. Every sip you have new notes coming. Very complex and delicious! Cheers!

I dare say the buzz is justified with this one! For my palate, I’d rank this higher than any of the standard range peated 10s or 12s. In terms of character, I’d place this somewhere between Laphroaig 10 and Ardbeg 10… not quite as medicinal as the Laphroaig and not as campfire-like as Ardbeg, but with the nutty character I associate with the Ardbeg Corryvreckan. When the craving for some peat arises, the Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength remains my top choice, but this strikes me as a more approachable Ardbeg Corryvreckan… meaning, absolutely fantastic.

Nose: smoky and briny, intense pungent peat, medicinal hints, ginger, a touch of floral notes, some sweet vanilla and mint. Palate: thick and somewhat oily yet smooth and goes down almost too easily, sweet citrus zest, rich vanilla, pepper, ginger. There are certainly some medicinal peat notes but they complement the rest of the palate. Has a pleasant spicy kick on the back palate. Finish: moderately long, lingering smoke and salty sea air, clove.