The Whisky Blues No. 16 Ledaig 2005 15 Years Old #900003

Style: Spicy, Delicate and Sweet

Rating: ☆+ [Recommended]

Nose:

Mind-numbing spice turns up the heat and radiating like a hot sauna room, while the Ledaig signatures - Brine, dried shrimp and graphite floats gently and lay upon the menthol and red chilli backbone. Passionfruit and citrus overtone rounding off the aroma nicely, followed by hints of Rosé and red strawberries. Linseed, squid ink, and lemon aloe vera tightly laced with a farm-y and tarry peat towards the end.

Palate:

Tarry peat and mango fruit tart making a quiet entrance while the intense spice gradually makes it presence felt at the front. A quicker transition to passionfruit and aloe vera as we move one level down, then there is another layer of mineral notes, ink and maritime smoke. The sweetness contracts and condenses at the core, with tropical fruits cordial and wine gummies carefully balanced by lilies, bonito and kelp. Malt shining beautifully now, while oak, white pepper and menthol hitting the high notes to finish.

Finish:

Fruits and oak merge together and form a good dose of milk chocolate. Subtle notes of manuka honey, steaming hot green tea, red chilli and peppercorns linger on.

Thoughts:

Usually I am quite skeptical when it comes to ultra-high strength drams, the spirit spice can easily overwhelm and stifle the expression. But somehow, the elements are able to survive the lake of fire and deliver in an incredibly delicate fashion, very quiet, yet very complex and full-bodied - this is the personification of an iron fist in a velvet glove. The sherry plays a subtle role here which does not disrupt the dynamics while adding an extra level of sweetness and complexity that makes the malt sings. Extreme dram but I love it. Recommended.

[64.7% | Independent Bottling | 2005 Distilled | 2021 Bottled | Single Cask | Cask Strength | Cask Number: 900003 | 1 of 468 Bottles | Sherry Butt | *+]

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