Review by: dustbunna
Distillery: Tobermory.
Bottler: Distillery bottling.
Region: Islands (Mull), Scotland.
ABV: 52.6%. Cask strength.
Age: 14 years. Distilled in 2009. Bottled in 2023.
Cask type: Full maturation in a first-fill Oloroso cask.
Price: £130 GBP for 700mL.
Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.
Bottle open across approx. two years, notes taken leisurely across that period, and consistent throughout the life of the bottle.
Nose: Oh mama. Intense on first approach, blueberries, blackberries, hay, earth, used motor oil, sea air, a farmy note in the background, long-smoked brisket, hot sauna coals.
Palate: medium-heavy body ~ massive arrival on more berries, orange peel, earth, industrial smoke, white pepper, brine, brown sugar, leather, barbeque drippings and char.
Finish: medium-long ~ blueberries, a citric bite (fresh lemon), some more industrial notes in the background, metal shavings, pie crust, soot, menthol, sea spray, mildly sour on the tail end.
Thoughts: In short, fantastic. Massive distillate smashes full-force into massive cask, both hold up. Everyone wins. It’s a complex experience offering up a lot of flavor each time, heavier and bass-driven up front and brighter on the palate/finish. I bought this from the distillery shop on Mull in October 2023. At the time it was the only distillery exclusive that Tobermory had reserved from selling on their online shop, and I could see why: they wanted a special experience for those who made the pilgrimage (i.e. those for whom the ferries to Mull and the seas around Oban all cooperate—honestly we were quite lucky to make it over there in calm seas in late October.) There’s certainly some nostalgia built into my experience with this whisky, but it’s hard to ignore it as every sip brings me right back to walking along Tobermory’s harbor, past its surround of colorful buildings. It’s not often that I find myself charmed by an aggressive first-fill sherry cask, but Ledaig’s dirty spirit here really matches perfectly, and the result is a sparkler.
Final Score: 92.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 