Ledaig 19 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Finish £110 & Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky review

let’s begin

These are some really exquisite releases from this Island distillery, with a luxurious age statement and well carried out maturation.

The Brand

Ledaig is a brand made at the Tobermory Distillery, the only distillery on the island of Mull. Here they han craft their Ledaig 19 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Finish & Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

It has stood there since 1798, when it was first founded by John Sinclair. It had a silent period of around 41 years during both wars and prohibition.

Tobermory was bought by Burns Stewart distillers in the 1990s and it has thrived since then.

The distillery, and both the Tobermory and Ledaig brands are thriving, especially with the increase in interest that the Whisky industry is experiencing.

In fact it has had to close for two years due to upgrading and refurbishment, with the hopes of improving the customer experience in the visitor centre.

This is an exciting time for Tobermory and its island home.

The Ledaig 19 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Finish & Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Ledaig (pronounced Le-Chig) is the brand of peated malt that is made at Tobermory and it is wonderfully smoky and sweet.

These two expression are particularly well done and present some really interesting maturation.

Tasting Notes for Ledaig 19 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Finish

Bottle cost: £110

The Ledaig 19 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Finish has been matured in Bourbon barrels before being transferred and finished in Pedro Ximenez casks.

The nose opens with bog bold flavours of caramel, orange and cinnamon. It is warming and lively, with really delicious sweetness and zest. The typical Ledaig peat smoke is understated smooth, adding a lovely mellow backdrop for the bigger flavours.

The palate is rich and sophisticated, with dark chocolate, more orange, and tart summer berries. It is creamy and smooth, with a caramel like mouth feel.

The peat smoke is again present and its dull tang allows the richer flavours to really show themselves.

Tasting Notes for Ledaig 19 Year Old Marsala Finish

The Ledaig 19 Year Old Marasala has been matured in oak wood casks before being finished in Marsala wine casks.

The nose starts with peppery spice and a lovely berry zest. The peat is soft and smooth, adding a nice smoky flavour that emboldens a caramel and black treacle sweetness.

The palate is refined and tangy, with lots of citrus fruits and caramel.

Salt, pepper and a hint of cloves also appear alongside the peat and make for a well rounded dram. The Marsala sherry notes are really easy going and add a lovely homely quality to the dram.

The finish is rich and heavily peated, with hints of vanilla, caramel and oak wood.

These are both really good examples of the high quality malts created at Tobermory under the Ledaig name.

If you’re looking for something to really sink your teeth into and explore well made malts with interesting finishes, the Ledaig 19 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Finish & Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whiskies are the perfect drams to start with.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below and let’s have a chat!

Tags: Ledaig 19 Year OldmaltPedro Ximénez FinishSherry Cask FinishTobermory Distillery

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.