Occasionally, whiskies from a specific distillery with a certain vintage will reach new heights of critical acclaim. For example, 1966 is considered to be one of the best vintages from Springbank Distillery, with bottles such as the Springbank 1966 Local Barley inspiring bidding wars when they appear at auction. Brora whisky from 1972 is also subject to a huge amount of praise, as is whisky from Ledaig in 1972.
Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun scored the Ledaig 1972 18 Year Old James MacArthur 93 points upon tasting in 2005, pointing out that many ‘malt maniacs’ have a particular affinity for this vintage. So, on this week’s Scotch Whisky Legends, let’s delve into this 1972 vintage Ledaig – its history, tasting notes, and auction prices.
Ledaig In 1972
Ledaig Distillery (or Tobermory, as it is now known) has had a turbulent history. It was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair on the Isle of Mull in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. After an initially good run, Ledaig was mothballed in 1837 and not reopened until 1878. Subsequently, the distillery changed hands numerous times before falling under DCL’s portfolio in 1916. However, it was closed again in 1930.
After 42 years of silence, Ledaig Distillery reopened again in 1972 under Ledaig Distillery Ltd. This company was formed by a shipping operator from Liverpool and the Spanish Pedro Domecq. With a new owner, an eponymous limited company, and a refurb complete with new stills, it felt like the beginning of a new era. However, just three years later, the distillery closed again after its owner declared bankruptcy. So, Ledaig’s run in the 1970s was severely limited. However, it seems that something magical happened there in 1972 to produce such fantastic vintage whiskies.
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Eager followers of Scotch Whisky Legends will know that, a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Tobermory 1972 Moon Import De Viris Illustribus for this very series. The bottling may be under a different name (it was bottled in 1995 after the distillery was renamed), but both whiskies were produced at the same distillery in the same year. And, they both ended up on Serge’s ‘Winner’s List’.
Let’s see what Serge thought of the 1972 Ledaig bottled by James MacArthur in 1990.
Serge Valentin’s Tasting Notes On The Ledaig 1972 18 Year Old James MacArthur
The Ledaig 1972 18 Year Old was bottled by James MacArthur in 1990. James MacArthur & Co has long been known for its understated labels containing stellar whiskies, often from lesser-known or closed distilleries.
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When the Ledaig 1972 was bottled in 1990, Ledaig had been renamed Tobermory but was once again inactive having closed in 1982. With so many closures in such a relatively short time span, it was assumed that this would be the end of Tobermory. The distillery was converted into holiday lets and cheese stores. If that had been the case, this whisky would have left Ledaig one hell of a legacy.
It is also worth noting that Ledaig, at the time, produced both peated and unpeated expressions using the same stills and production methods. Today, of course, Ledaig is exclusively the peated brand of Tobermory whisky.
Serge Valentin sampled this whisky in 2005. Here is what he had to say:
“Some fellow maniac told me wonders about the 1972 Ledaigs, and it’s true I loved an G&M ‘old brown label’ we had on… Islay.
“Colour: straw. Nose: wow, wonderfully peaty a la Ardbeg 1974 or Brora 1972 (yeah, talking about vintages in whisky). Very smoky, with whiffs of wet stone and fresh pepper. Extremely clean, pure, almost austere and sharp like a blade, I love that. Hints of seltzer.
“Mouth: incredible, it’s exactly like the very best unsherried old Ardbegs. Very pure again, sharp, clean, with a superb blend of smokiness, peat and grapefruit juice. Great balance, and some great peppery notes at that.
“Stunning development on lemon seeds and a very long smoky finish.
“A perfect style, this one could compete with many Ardbeg single casks or Broras Rare Malts, OBs or Platinum – and I’m not sure about the results if that’s done ‘blindly’. A stunning surprise: 93 points” – Serge Valentin, WhiskyFun.com, September 2005
Auction Prices (or a lack thereof…)
These bottles are rare. Very rare. It has only appeared at auction four times since its first appearance in December 2013, and was last sold in October 2020 for £2,150.
If you have got one lurking in your cupboard, you are sitting on liquid gold.
A Brief History of Tobermory Distillery
Tobermory Distillery, located on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, was established in 1798 by John Sinclair. Originally named Ledaig, after the Gaelic name for the area, the distillery experienced multiple closures and changes in ownership throughout its history due to economic difficulties, wars, and financial instability. Despite these challenges, it resumed production several times, reflecting its ability to recover and continue operations.
In 1972, the distillery was relaunched under the Ledaig name, focusing on producing peated whisky. However, financial issues led to another closure in 1975. It reopened in the 1990s under the name Tobermory Distillery, which now produces two main types of whisky: the unpeated Tobermory, known for its lighter character, and the peated Ledaig whisky.
In 2017, Tobermory closed for a two-year refurbishment aimed at modernizing its facilities. Today, it is one of Scotland’s oldest commercial distilleries, producing whisky in line with traditional methods while maintaining its historical significance within the whisky industry.
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