Ledaig 2005 13 year TWE

Continuing my journey through Ledaig expressions, I have a sample generously provided by a friend. It's a single sherry butt that aged for 13 years before being bottled in 2019 for TWE at 57.4%. The aroma is rich and dense, beginning with tangy smoked pork belly, caramelized pears, and charred hay bales, followed by cocoa powder-dusted figgy pudding and a seaside minerality. It then moves to sautéed cinnamon apples, grilled peaches, and musty grapes, transitioning into cloves and sweet pipe tobacco with a moderate ethanol burn. The taste has a rich and syrupy texture, starting with tangy smoked pork belly, caramelized pears, and charred hay bales. A mild peppery spice quickly fades to cocoa powder-dusted figgy pudding and seaside minerality. It's followed by sautéed cinnamon apples, grilled peaches, and musty grapes, transitioning to freshly lit pipe tobacco with a high ethanol burn. The finish is long with dense chocolate torte, caramelized figs, candied bacon, and freshly lit pipe tobacco that lingers for minutes. Yes! This is how I prefer my Ledaig: a dense, rich nose with bold flavors of smoked meats, decadent caramelized fruits, light farmyard funk, seaside minerality, and tobacco that carries through to the palate with a rich, syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is long with rich chocolate, sweet meats, and smoking tobacco. The flavors in the Ledaig 10 were so thin and subtle with an ABV of 46.3%, which felt like driving a Shelby Cobra Mustang with a lawn mower engine – you could tell there was potential, but it needed more power. The 13-year-old expression provided that by increasing the ABV to 57.4%, transforming the experience into a supercharged thrill ride with full-throttle flavors that demand you buckle up.

The 2nd sample vial I brought with me to Hawaii…this one a 13 yr sherry matured Ledaig, sent courtesy from a friend. In 75 degree weather, sitting by the pool, not sure if a Peat/ sherry combo is ideal in this setting….more meant for lighter drinks, but is there ever a wrong place for a really good Ledaig? This is how I like my whiskey. Rich, thick mouthfeel. It’s briny, salty, and sweet. Carmelized fruit. Rich meat and nuts ( the recent macadamia crusted ahi I just had comes to mind). Sea salt chocolate. It’s a decadent whiskey that acts older than its young teen years. Great cask choice by the folks over at TWE. Thanks a friend for the pour!