Nose: Berries and cream, this really amps up with time in the glass. Oysters and sherry vinegar, salty and puckering. The astringence of a white tea. Fresh cut grass with slight whiffs of nectarine and tangerine. Fabric bandaids and copper penny. Sour green apples, wildflower honey, and amazingly no peat. With more time, canned peaches and white chocolate make an entrance.
Palate: There is a place and time for each pour. This is being paired with my diary. It suits a pensive mood, makes me think and introspect. Writing about how to be a better husband tonight. 18 years in, it’s pretty easy to take shit for granted, be it my amazing julie, or a well chosen Tobermory. I love the gentle waxy minerality. And the splash of pink grapefruit bitters and basil – which could be an awesome hipster lolly. Nose wrinkles at the furniture spray. A big sip lends itself to matcha green tea, an enticing bitterness. With more time in the glass you get some of those white chocolate and peach notes. In the distant finish you get that lovely nod to the berries on the nose.
Rating: 8 (Shane) 6 (Ryan) / 10
Shane: I truly like this. Freaking elegant and layers across the tongue. This is the least peated Ledaig I’ve had. I can’t find the smoke. Wondering if it should have just been labeled a Tobermory? Kinda sad my sample is gone and already asked Ryan if he wants to sell me one of his bottles. He was so unsure and I was so excited he asked me to wait while he tried it on a different day.
Ryan: I want to like this more than I do, the nose is really lovely and soft, but I’m struggling to pull much from the front of the palate other than bitterness. I love that subtle berrylicious note that lingers long after the finish. This is a challenging and shockingly delicate spirit, and one I’d like to spend more time with. Definitely a fun and unique expression from Ledaig and I appreciate Bram and Floris bottling it for us to enjoy.
