This long-aged smoky Ledaig 1997 is one of the recent exclusives for The Whisky Exchange. It is a 25 year old single malt from the stock of Douglas Laing, who bottled it in their Xtra Old Particular (XOP) range.
We’ve seen some excellent unpeated Ledaig 1995 recently, but this is definitely the classic, peated profile. Most independently bottled Ledaig tends to be around 10-15 years of age, so it’s nice to get an older version.
Ledaig 25 yo 1997 (57,2%, Douglas Laing XOP for The Whisky Exchange 2023, refill hogshead DL16830, 171 btl.)
Nose: exhaust fumes and greasy smoke, with menthol and medicinal oinments in the background. Hints of garage toolboxes. Cigar leaves, subtle tar and whiffs of dried herbs. Then some tangerine or Seville orange alongside roasted apples. Just a hint of sweetened bacon in the background. A very mature, peated profile.
Mouth: slightly more chisseled, on nice coal smoke mixed with roasted coffee beans. Menthol freshness again, further lifted by pineapple and lemon. Then wood spice, kelp and a pinch of smoked salt. Bandages and TCP come out, as well as charred bits of a pain au raisin. A wee hint of chocolate too.
Finish: long and dark, with more coffee notes, oily notes and mint, as well as some dark cassis sweetness and a salty touch.
After a quarter of a century this is showing a balanced take on Ledaig. However it is still really muscular and full of power. Complex, smoky, with some dirty and fruity echoes. Overall a very tasty alternative to the Islay equivalents. Now available from The Whisky Exchange.