Threatening set of 6 cask strength samples from 6 different bottlers, ABV varies from 55.1% to 61.9%, only the strongest will survive :)
Ledaig 1994/2008 Mackillop's Choice 55.1% - seems to be the oldest one today.
Nose: apple hooch, malty notes, typical wet rags, but not pleasant ones this time.
Taste: strong, fresh, a bit salty with nice minty note.
Finish: long and sharp developing on peat, salt and pepper. Not too complex but very pleasant.
Overall: a bit disappointed with the nose (you expect more maturity in this age), though taste and finish are ok.
Score = 20 22 21 21, 84/100!
Ledaig 9 yo The Whisky Exchange 56.5% - bottled for The Whisky Exchange Whiskyshow.
Nose: black tea, wet rags (hello!) and lollipops (suddendly).
Taste: clean and powerful, smoked fish, touch of salt and citrus.
Finish: long, fresh with mint and anise notes.
Overall: I like this one more :)
Score = 21 22 22 22, 87/100!
Ledaig 10 yo Signatory Vintage Fat Cat 58.0% - bottled for The Cutty Sark Scots Whisky Forum.
Nose: delicious sherry notes, typical wet rags are absent, but sausage and bacon are fine replacement :) You can add a dram of this to the meat soup.
Taste: strong tea, wood fire, chocolate and sweet dried fruits.
Finish: long, smoky, sweet and salty with layers of bacon and wood.
Overall: very nice sherried Ledaig indeed.
Score = 22 22 22 22, 88/100!
Ledaig 10 yo 2004/2015 van Wees cask 900176 61.9% - the stakes are rising, it's 61.9% already!
Nose: motley grass, hay, smoke and fruits, later on my favourite sausage appears.
Taste: strong and thick developing on peat, grass and citrus fruits.
Finish: long, salty and peaty.
Overall: quite similar profile to the previous sample, tad less sherry and tad more grass in van Wees. The same score.
Score = 22 22 22 22, 88/100!
Ledaig 9 yo Potstill 60.7% - this one has been my favourite so far, let's see... Sherry puncheon here.
Nose: sweet rubber, lemons, fish and minerals. Almost Ardbeg.
Taste: strong, spicy and oily developing on sweet raw (!) potatoes.
Finish: long and peaty with lots of sea salt and air.
Overall: sherry influence is more balanced here in my opinion and you get more of initial Ledaig character. Remains my favourite.
Score = 22.5 22.5 22 22, 89/100!
Ledaig 1998/2011 MoS cask #11010 61.2% - matured in sherry butt.
Nose: sherried wet rags, smoked tea, but no sausages this time...
Taste: big and smoky, citrus fruits, salted earth.
Finish: long and salty,
Overall: maybe just a notch weaker in the nose (strictly imo of course) than Fat Cat and van Wees sherry brothers.
Score = 21 22 22 22, 87/100!
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