A SMOKY HIVE – Score: 7/10
The pleasure of discovering new bottles never wanes—especially when the price remains reasonable, which is becoming increasingly rare nowadays.
This 2012 Ledaig, aged nine years in Bordeaux wine casks, is still available for under 100 euros, making it a true bargain. In the same spirit as its sibling from the Sinclair Series, this dram, matured in wine casks, reveals a shimmering hue with orange undertones.
But colour is of little consequence, provided the flavour is there. The tasting notes are eclectic yet harmonious, offering honeyed smoothness and red grape evolving into ginger on the finish. The smoky peat envelops the whole with restraint, yet assertiveness.
What distinguishes this expression is its delicate balance between sweetness and smoke—a contrast that can often feel forced in other bottlings but here unfolds with subtle elegance. The influence of the Bordeaux cask imparts a vinous depth that enriches the mid-palate, without overshadowing the distillery’s maritime and earthy character. It’s a whisky that invites contemplation, but doesn’t demand it—a companionable dram as much as a connoisseur’s curiosity.
A fine bottle that will be appreciated by lovers of smoky whiskies.
