Blind Tasting Competition #4: Ledaig 2005 Whisky-Fässle

This will be an exciting round for me, as I am very confident that I know what distillery sample #4 is from. My confidence level is probably at 99 percent. I think that what I’m nosing and tasting here is a Ledaig. One of those young ones that have been released aplenty these past two years.

Ledaig 2005/2014 (53,3%, Whisky-Fässle)

Nose: Fresh peat and sauerkraut, which is sort of how I would describe the distinctive Ledaig aroma. Some coal and seawater are accompanied by white fruit. Very minimalist, but rather enjoyable.
Taste: Coal, ashes and smoked fish. Dirty and organic with brine, leather and olives. Some pleasant lemon as well.
Finish: More of the same with ash and peat smoke.

Rating: 84

Good stuff. Very one dimensional – which is why it doesn’t get a higher rating – but the good kind. I think this is an 8 year old Ledaig, bottled at 51,6 percent.

Turns out I was right to be confident. I don’t have much experience with Ledaig, but to me there is just something very recognizable about these young ones. I guessed to distillery and the age right, and also received some points for the abv.

Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.