Origin: Isle of Mull (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 56.8%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry Refill
Chillfiltered: No
Additional colouring: No
Property: Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd.
Average price: € 260.00
Official Website: www.gordonandmacphail.com
In the center of Elgin, the capital of Speyside, next to the renowned cashmere store “Johnston,” where you have to shell out no less than 300 pounds for a sweater, there is the boutique of Gordon & MacPhail, the famous independent bottler of Benromach, which has its warehouses in Elgin. You enter on tiptoe, with your fingers tightly gripping your credit card, expecting the worst, and instead… The long-aged whiskies with prohibitive prices are naturally available, but you can also find a wide selection that is absolutely appealing, with tolerable price markups.
Today, from the Connoisseurs Choice series, of which several bottles have already been reviewed on the blog, we select a Ledaig from a single cask ex sherry refill, filled at Tobermory on June 13, 2001, and bottled on February 15, 2021, in 533 bottles at 56.8%ABV and without any adulterations.
Tasting Notes
The color is amber.
Bringing the glass to the nose, we are transported not so much to the breezy Isle of Mull but rather to a sensory plane in South Tyrol, with an unmistakable hint of speck. As the olfactory analysis continues, the constant impression is one of a not overly intense smoke resting on a sweet base, with aromas that oscillate between grilled marron glacé and assorted nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds) sprinkled with burnt caramel, charcoal, and meringue. A surprisingly umami undertone is revealed.
The palate is a faithful reflection of the sense of smell, although the bitter dimension of smoke is slightly thicker. The overall profile is marked by a mild spiciness (black pepper), while in the retro-nasal olfaction, a particularly evocative note of earthiness intertwines with a non-overpowering caramel sweetness.
The finish is also spicy, with medium persistence, where dark chocolate and a hint of smoke linger on a layer of burnt caramel, highlighting the happy coexistence of sweetness and smokiness.
Review: 19 years in cask have softened the intensity of the smoke, allowing a not overly strong cask to dress the distillate with sobriety and elegance, not without variations on the theme (the umami note and the earthy note) that add an extra layer of interest.
Vote: 88/100