A recent bottling by Douglas Laing in their XOP range of casks, this time bottled for TWE. 25 year old Ledaig! sounds yummy, right? Let’s dig in.
Ledaig 1997,25 Year Old Xtra Old Particular for TWE , 57.2%
Nose: Nice and dirty like we love our Ledaigs, with engine oils, Car mechanics sheds, burnt rubber, and then some fruitier notes, some berries and roasted red apples and singed pears, glazed with sweet nectars and bacon, Kerosene and a hint of mint. Wow. What a stunner.
Palate: It’s a game of bitter and sweet notes here on the palate, with mint and licorice up front alongside burnt embers and soot. Singed ripe oranges, and some creamy fresh baked buns, with more of the mint, leather, and tarry rope notes, very sooty and dusty.
Finish: Long and bitter with dark chocolate, more of the engine oil, mint, and hessian alongside a distant fruity hint of berries and barley sugars, and bits of chilly heat towards the very end.
Conclusion: Everything I was hoping for and then some. It’s really dirty and smoky and sooty with the right amount of fruit . Complex, and very loveable. A superb older Ledaig.
Score: 92/100
Still available online for £325 on the TWE site.