One can never be too sure when you see a…longer than usual cask number on a bottle of Scotch (5 or 6+ numbers). Some bottlers, even distilleries themselves, use this as a decoder/giveaway that the spirit was re-casked at some point, for whatever reason. But thanks to some Whiskybase due diligence it would seem that’s just how Tobermory was labeling them back in 2005/2006, where it also seems a large chunk of their stock was parceled out to independent bottlers. Not surprising, considering Ledaig was seen just about everywhere in the market circa 2019-2021, all with those similar vintages.
Distilled a day apart, it’s tough to say how truly similar a childhood these two “sister casks” had growing up. That’s the beauty of single casks. Without knowing the full timeline, or blockchain since we’ve entered the beginning of the robot-era…we can’t really do an apples-to-apples comparison. Oh well, nerdy whisky thoughts aside…time to enjoy some sweet peat (perhaps?) from those fine folks at Elixir…who just happen to be doing everything right these days, in my unbiased, but very-judgey opinion.
Ledaig - Elixir Distillers
2005/14 Year |Single Malts of Scotland| Sherry Butt 900177 - 57.8%
Appearance: Copper
First Whiff: Burning incense sticks.
Nose: Bonfire embers (one of the best tasting notes of all time), nice fruits here, citrus first…dried orange potpourri, orange tang (was that the only flavor?), grapefruit, cooked peaches, red plums. Good character so far.
Palate: Oily. Peat-reek…like a diesel engine running on fumes. Smoked kippers…salmon (or lox, here in the states), salty. Little musty, almost like a rancio but nowhere near those sweet, tobacco notes I usually get for that. Numbing and citrusy on the backend. With water: Ooo yes. Water rewards you with a fatter, chewier, more pleasant mouthfeel. Accentuates the coal ashy side with some sweet cinnamon/stewed pears.
Finish: Medium-short. The heat dulled it a bit. Campfire smoke and steamed shellfish…a very nice combo, actually. With water: Quite perfect. Longer finish, warming…brings out more of the stone fruits, light red plums, nectarines.
Summary: Combustible...clearly not overdone with sherry. “Sherry Butt” usually means this was a refill sherry but we’re never given any clues as to which type (oloroso/PX/fino/amontillado). Oloroso/PX are the cheapest to source, so, as a consumer we usually let our palate believe it’s one of those two. I’d wager this was on the PX side of things though, caramelizing that rough, dirty, Ledaig spirit.
IDS SCORE: 88
Ledaig - Elixir Distillers
2005/14 Year |Single Malts of Scotland| Sherry Butt 900178 - 55.4%
Appearance: Auburn, Tawny (Slightly darker than 900177)
First Whiff: Sweet meat.
Nose: Less dusty/musty than the previous, more on the fragrant side. Slightly solvent but bursting with Ledaig character. Cured meats, tang again, orange marmalade and honey. Neither of these were overdone by the sherry butts.
Palate: Ashy, less dirty. More grilled salmon, than smoked. Salty/sour, but creamy, cherry compote perhaps?…there’s the sherry. With water: Much of the same, little more woody, crème caramel, buttered toffee…butterfinger-y (ya, I don’t like how that sounds either).
Finish: Rubbery and short. More off notes…cooked fennel/onions, old band-aids. Very medicinal. Syrupy, dried up coal.
Summary: Quite similar casks here, no surprise. Quality spirit/casks managed and bottled by a quality independent bottler…lead to a quality dram…or two in this case. Good amount of spirit character in each, which will be either too dirty or not enough, depending on your palate, of course. Very nice at 14 years, but perhaps a pre-sweet spot, I’d say.
IDS SCORE: 88
Ledaig Elixir Sisters
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