K&L Exclusive Cask: 2006 Cask-Strength Ledaig from Old Particular – Scotch Whisky News
A Singular Sherry Cask from at a Jaw-Dropping Price
2006 Ledaig 15 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99)
“One thing is for sure, you’re in for a wild ride everytime you buy a Ledaig—but of the many we’ve bottled over the years, this may be one of the most obviously delicious.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
As part of our recent haul from our friends at Old Particular, we’ve brought in a spectacular cask from everyone’s favorite iconoclast, Ledaig. From the treasured Tobermory distillery on the far-flung Isle of Mull, Ledaig is always a hotly debated topic among connoisseurs, for the simple fact that it has one of the most singular and estoreric profiles in Scotch whisky. Of course, no two single barrels are the same, and it’s safe to say that the casks of Ledaig to come through our doors in the past several years compare to nothing else in our program. Today’s cask is one for a broader audience than your usual Ledaig. To start, it’s just compellingly delicious, but not without its trademark Ledaig features. It’s a powerhouse of a whisky that does well with water, but the savory complexity is off the charts (as is the peat), and it carries the refill sherry butt with a subtle flair. As buyer David Othenin-Girard puts it, “The sherry is there but takes a serious back seat to the powerful spirit … just pure peat and wild, oceanic Ledaig character behind.” Best of all, we’ve sourced this utterly unique gem at a jaw-dropping, sub-$100 price, making it an undeniable steal for those savvy enough to get in on it.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: September 10, 2021
A second fabulous Ledaig, this time slightly leveled by sherry, which we acquired at a seemingly outrageous value. The Tobermory distillery on the hard-to-reach Isle of Mull is one of the least explored. The lovely town of Tobermory is famous for its colorful houses, but the distillery has stayed off many drinkers’ radars for lack of availability. We’ve managed to score several casks of the limited production smokey variant like this one, pronounced “La-chick,”, and they’ve been among the most controversial bottlings in our history. One thing is for sure, you’re in for a wild ride everytime you buy a Ledaig—but of the many we’ve bottled over the years, this may be one of the most obviously delicious. The sherried expressions of Ledaig are highly sought-after, although their profiles range wildly from the extremely unusual to the only slightly strange. This falls toward the slightly less crazy flavor profile, although it still has plenty of dense umami, gorgeous peat, and measured sherry character. Still don’t expect complete smooth sailing. The route to Mull is always a bit unpredictable, and this nicely aged peater in refill sherry is no exception. The color is pale gold. Much more restrained and approachable than the 12 Year. A pungent nose of amino acids, overripe tropical fruit, dark tarry smoke and pine sap. On the palate, the peat turns up, with a lovely meatiness and a big peppercorn finish. This one loves water—six drops in a half-ounce pour. Very much more open now. Bacon smoke, orange marmalade, pine again, leather, rust, hyssop, seagrass, barnacles, old wooden trawler, snuff box. The sherry is there but takes a serious back seat to the powerful spirit. This is clean for a sherried Ledaig with no sulphur at all, just pure peat and wild, oceanic Ledaig character behind.
