Lairds Apple Brandy Single Cask Cask Strength Review
The whisky community, like many communities, has their share of people who are not just enthusiasts, but are geeks and all-out nerds. And they are proud of information technology. They help to pulsate up enthusiasm, always accept fourth dimension for you and are respectful towards the entire customs, regardless of your feel level.
Although he no longer works for Distel, Mike Brisebois (@thewhiskyexplorer), more than anyone else, helped to put their products on the map. At present Tobermory (Ledaig), Deanston, Bunnahabhain and Black Canteen are household names from coast to declension. As Canada's unofficial official whisky ambassador, his enthusiasm has helped to introduce endless numbers of people to the h2o of life. Now hit it out on his ain, his Whisky Explorer Order will continue to spread his passion for whisky within Canada.
Since we are talking nigh Ledaig, I would exist remiss if I didn't mention Josh Ward (@knowyourwhisky) of The Whisky Heathens. From his home in Ft. McMurray, Alberta, he has probably tried all the Ledaig available out there and is the most vocal supporter of both Tobermory and Ledaig on social media.
With these two acting as major cheerleaders for the whisky under review today, information technology'southward no wonder Ledaig (and Tobermory for that matter) does a brisk trade in this country.
And so to the whisky in question. This Ledaig has been matured in a re-fill sherry butt for over 12 years and was bottled by Signatory Whisky as part of their Vintage Cask Force Collection lineup at threescore.ane%.
Nose: Since I popped this bottle back in belatedly April of this year, information technology has mellowed significantly. Make no fault, this is still a bold dram, but it is far less "burnt rubber" forward than it used to be. Usually, Ledaig is far more maritime than it is medicinal and that is the case here. In that regard, there'due south a hefty dose of bounding main spray, seashells and weathered driftwood. Moving inland a little, in that location are some lovely BBQ notes of sweet fume and meat on the grill. This bottle, coming from a re-fill sherry butt, is more distillate than cask forward just there is a little scrap of fresh plum and earthy spices such as clove and nutmeg. There'south only a hint of dark chocolate so I'k guessing this is Oloroso rather than PX. Finally, at that place is a whiff of mint toothpaste to round this all out. This does not olfactory organ like a cask strength whisky, but I take a feeling that this will non be the instance on the palate!
Palate: My prediction was correct. This is mellow for virtually two seconds before the heat takes over in a big mode. On the entry, brief though information technology is, it's sweet, a niggling bit tart and much more oily than creamy. Lots of rich honey, sponge toffee and orange and lemon skin initially. Then the proof, spice and oak kick in along with a potent mint toothpaste and mouthwash vibe. The initial sweet is non entirely drowned out all the same, and it'due south joined by a rich dark chocolate note that builds through the development. Bobbing along the surface are those salty and mineral maritime notes. Towards the terminate of the evolution clove and nutmeg are joined by ginger.
Stop: The oak is nowadays, simply by no means is information technology ascendant or drying. The baking spices slowly fade, but do not disappear. The saltiness remains and does a hint of dark chocolate. All of this combines to requite me a sort of spice cake note that I get off of a lot of whiskies like this. The citrus helps to cut through the dryness of the oak. It goes without saying that the stop is insanely long.
With water added…
I let try this sit down with 7 drops of water in my remaining ounce of whisky for at least 30 minutes while my gustatory modality buds recovered. It's quite a bit more cask forward now with stewed stone fruits, simply the mint toothpaste is nevertheless at that place. The spices are a fleck less earthy at present. Allspice rather than clove and nutmeg. It's likewise non quite every bit maritime either. The role reversal between distillate and cask continues on the palate. More stewed fruits, baking spices and dark chocolate. It's also more than orange marmalade than citrus peel. The end is more citrus frontward this fourth dimension round and has a little bit more oak.
Determination
I like the contrast hither between sipping this swell and with water. Although there is a reversal between distillate and cask dominance, i isn't hugely victorious over the other in either case. Signatory had a Ledaig in the out turn previous to this one that was the same age and strength, merely in a first fill sherry butt as opposed to a refilled 1. It would be interesting to endeavor a Ledaig along those lines someday, but to encounter what the contrast is.
Although special releases of Ledaig and annihilation besides their official 10 year expression are fiendishly hard to find in Canada, information technology seems to exist very pop with independent bottlers these days. It'southward thanks to them that in that location will always be a Ledaig available on a shelf nearby.
Instagram: @paul.bovis
winspearwhost1955.blogspot.com
Source: https://parkwhiskeysociety.com/2021/09/09/signatory-vintage-cask-strength-collection-ledaig-2007-12-year-review/