Ledaig 2012 9 Year Bordeaux Wine Cask Matured

Show Notes: Sydney Whisky May 20, 2023. Spirit #18 Smell: Ashy peat, grilled meats, dark red berries, spearmint, and a waxy menthol/eucalyptus scent. The aroma presents a fascinating harmony of smoke, subtle red wine, and vibrant spirit notes, with a hint of off-notes. Taste: A smooth, gentle smoky start with cherries, red berries, and malt, counterpointed by pepper, sweet cinnamon, and sea salt. As it develops, notes of cherry nougat, rich cherry chocolate cake, honey, exotic fruits, and salted chocolate-covered caramels emerge. The mouthfeel is superb – slightly creamy, a touch oily, yet also dry. End: Medium to Long: Sweet red fruit, a hint of subtle spice, and persistent warm peat smoke. An excellent spirit. What else is there to add? I savored my sample dram and promptly requested another. I rarely do that, but on this occasion, I felt compelled. The servings were small, and I desired more! I passed on this initially because the cost felt a bit high for a "just" 9-year-old spirit, and with the outstanding 18-year-old available for only a bit more, it seemed unnecessary. Naturally, I failed to consider that this is bottled at cask strength and fully aged in Bordeaux casks, not just finished. Do not group it with the standard Ledaig lineup; view it alongside independent bottler cask-strength releases, and it becomes clear. By the time I reached the sales booth near the exit, it was gone. Thankfully, I secured a bottle elsewhere. Suggested. "Excellent": 85/100 (4 stars)

(A virtual whisky tasting event in Glasgow on 08 October 2022). Nose: Bonfire, burnt wood, port wine, slightly off, petrol/kerosene Palate: Spicy, black pepper, wood smoke, saline, paraffin wax, black cherries, seaweed, almond/walnut, chocolate Finish: A long finish. Salt/saline, Black Forest cake, light peat, dark cherries. A dry aftertaste, with light spices like clove and allspice. Aged in European oak casks that previously held Bordeaux red wine. This whisky is very cake-like. It has a lot of dried wood and soft sweet peat, cherry, and chocolate. It's a Black Forest whisky! Quite good - a dry dram. It was the top choice out of the six samples, with 33% of the final vote for the favorite of the evening. 93% of attendees reported enjoying the whisky.

The aroma is musty and rich, with the red wine notes more prominent than any peat. The flavor is intense, featuring aged wood and bitter wine tannins, followed by smoke on the finish. The high proof delivers significant warmth, but I appreciate it due to the bitter and dark characteristics. It's nearly a perfect score; the only missing element is body. It's medium at best, and with such intensity of warmth and flavor, a richer consistency would make it ideal. Nonetheless, it is absolutely fantastic.

Wonderful. A beautiful peated whisky. The wine finish makes it truly exceptional.

Smoky with a taste of barbecue. It stings a little but is generally smooth.