Scotch

Ledaig Castaway Scotch Whisky Review

Can rum and tequila casks elevate coastal peat? Ledaig Castaway answers with brine, smoke, lime-agave zing and flashes of tropical sweetness.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:

A limited-edition Ledaig peated style single malt from the Isle of Mull’s Tobermory distillery. The Ledaig Castaway expression has been fully matured in a distinctive combination of Caribbean rum casks and Mexican Tequila casks. Only 6428 bottles have been released globally, bottled at natural colour and non-chill filtered, at 61.1% ABV.
Appearance:
Light Gold
Nose:
Coastal peat smoke opens accompanied by maritime sea spray and salt, balanced by soft aromas of sweet vanilla, caramelised banana, fudge and lime citrus. There is also a touch of white pepper.
Palate:
Bold smoke opens on the palate, with sea spray, salty brine and a touch of rock pool minerality. Tropical fruits including pineapple, grapefruit and lime develop for a sharp and slightly charred citrus, accompanied by herbal agave. There is brief sweet note of vanilla fudge, before this is overtaken as black pepper develops.
Finish:
Medium-long, with peat, salt, pepper and chilli. There are lingering notes of lime citrus and agave.
Comments:
An interesting twist on Ledaig, Castaway is the first expression to use the combination of rum and Tequila casks for maturation. It felt like the Tequila cask influence led for most of the experience with lingering lime and agave notes, but the rum cask maturation was discernible with flashes of caramelised banana and pineapple. I enjoyed sharp grilled tropical citrus fruit and herbal agave notes, and how these interacted with Ledaig’s characteristic brine and coastal peat profile. This feels like a great cask strength whisky for the summer!

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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