Ledaig 21 Manzanilla Cask

I'm quite new to Ledaig and, given its distinct character, I'm uncertain about rating it accurately, but this is a beginner's assessment, I suppose. Nose: Adhesive, plastic, sour oak, ash, and a bit of smoke, strongly reminiscent of Bowmore. Adding water softens it, revealing sweetness and making it much more pleasant and fruit-forward. Palate: Milk chocolate merges with adhesive and plastic, putty, soot, and a tannic, almost battery acid-like peat finish. Water enhances the milk chocolate, reduces the adhesive and plastic notes, and brings the soot to the forefront. Several baked fruit flavors are now emerging as well. So, a review with a friend is coming, but I wanted to experience this on its own as my first drink of the day to truly discern the malt. With water, I'm starting to detect notes similar to Talisker and Craigellachie, with wormwood sweetness and a hint of Talisker pepper. The plastic note from Bowmore persists, revealing a very clean malt before the smoky characteristics appear. A robust malt mellowed by 21 years of aging, tempered by manzanilla notes, yet still a wild spirit at its core. I'm assigning a 3-star rating. I believe my friend and I assessed this around an 87, but you'll have to watch the review in a few weeks. A whisky I love to hate or hate to love? I'm not certain, but it's a good spirit with a very traditional, classic old-world feel that doesn't perfectly align with what I seek in whisky, but it does incorporate many elements I appreciate.

The nose presents notes of ceramic, smoke, grilled pear, and apple. The palate is even more intricate, revealing strawberry flavors alongside intense smoke, more pear and apple, and orange marmalade, contributing to a rich mouthfeel. The peat oils create a long-lasting finish.

Wonderfully smoky. Deep, rich flavors.