I do love a Ledaig, especially with the Winter weather we’re having. This is an SMWS bottling which means it’s probably particularly good, so good in fact that they’ve called it “The Bee’s Knees”.
A fascinating combination of aromas ranging from sweet to salt and smoke kept us all very much engaged and interested; sea salt caramels, a salted chocolate tart using smoked sea salt and churros with salty peanut sugar and bitter chocolate. It tastes exactly how it noses. It was big in every sense; sweet, salty, smoky – simply stunning and best described by the following remarks; ‘dog’s bollocks’ and ‘bee’s knees’! Reluctantly we added a drop of water, however we still enjoyed that very unusual combination we experienced neat but now, admittedly, a little tamer but still tantalizing every nook and cranny of our tongue.
DRINKING TIP: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
Palate: A very malty peat, kind of like smokey porridge. Mead. Salt. Light wood. Woodspice. Pepper, lots of pepper, especially on the swallow.
Finish: Peppery note carries through. Cardboard. Peated barley. Water-extinguished bonfire. Long smokey woodspice and rubber note lingers for a really like time.
Would I buy this: Yes
Would I order this in a bar: Yes
Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Yes
VFM: 3/5
This was a good one indeed. The alcohol was surprisingly mellow in this for such a high ABV, but it was packed with flavours, delicious warming ones, great for Winter. This could easily take the place of a hot mug of Horlicks before bed.
