Ledaig 16 Years (2005/2022) - Signatory Vintage

Nose

It's clear from the first sniff: here comes a heavyweight.Bacon, barbecue smoke and maritime salt notes immediately dominate. It smells as if you are standing right next to a smoker grill on the coast, while the wind carries a mixture of charcoal and sea air. But there is more to this intense first impression. With a little time in the glass, BBQ sauce, honey and a hint of espresso unfold - a sweet and spicy depth that rounds off the flavour.The smoked almonds, which add a slightly nutty, oily note, are particularly exciting. And then there's that slightly earthy, dirty undertone that's so typical of Ledaig - as if you've just rolled your hands in wet peat. Fascinating and intense!

Palate

No surprise: at 66.1%, this whisky packs a punch. But despite the high alcohol strength, it is surprisingly complex. Voluminous, oily and powerful, it rolls over the tongue as if it were clawing its way into every corner of the mouth. The first impression is fruity and salty, almost as if you were tasting grilled peaches with a pinch of sea salt. But the BBQ wave sets in the very next moment: smoke, ham, charcoal, paired with a certain rubbery note and a slight hint of iodine. What makes it special: the flavours from the nose are perfectly reflected in the taste - nothing falls apart, nothing seems disharmonious. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, and with impressive intensity.

Finish

After such a brute start, one might expect a long, epic finish - but here the Ledaig surprises. Although the smoke remains noticeable, the finish is relatively short overall. What remains is a mixture of fruity and smoky notes, with a gentle echo of charcoal and salt.