The Ledaig to me has always been a stellar whisky, especially for the value that it brings. The expression has had the misfortune of being lesser known than the other mainstream distillers for several reasons – known and unknown. However their 10 to me was such a great tuple – sweet and rich, fortified with peat – balanced though not tipping the peaty scale; such that it was more than sufficient reasoning for me to pick up their Rioja Cask finish.

The Rioja was a new term, and on hitting it up on Google, I understand that it is a region in Spain that produces red wines that take its name – sitting on the lines of Tempranillo wines (this i know!). Medium to full bodied with some sweetness and good fruity nuances, it differs from sherries that are fortified with either brandy or a similar distilled spirit and is less sweeter than Oloroso sherries.

The “Sinclair” series is a homeage to their founder, John Sinclair, with the expression being the first. The bottle differs only slightly from the traditional Ledaig aesthetics, adorning a bronze orange ascot around the neck and sporting a similar coloured font for the labelling. The embossed details remain the same and uphold the rather subtle yet classy look to the bottle.

The illustration on the box is an ode to the Spanish galleon, which sank off the harbour of the Tobermory more than four centuries ago. It was thought to be stocked full of jewels, that is now believed to lay buried off the shoreline; and it is this Spanish influence that had the distillers lean on Rioja casks to finish off their whisky. This whisky is produced from barley that is heavily peated, with the distillate then matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in Spanish Rioja casks.

Abv : 46.3%

Eye : Chestnut Olorroso Sherry | Natural Colouring | Non Chill filtered

Nose : Caramel infused with peat and smoke, spices from cardamom are interleaved with grapes, dates, wood with hints of green pepper. A subtle sweetness emanating from vanilla cake and rose petals along with bits of leather and candied rasberries and whiff of spice.

Taste : Viscous and well bodied, showing off deep caramel notes, along with dried fruits, sultanas, figs and mulberries. There’s certainly some char and peat, honeydew and floral nuances.

Finish : Caramel with char, dried fruits and leather

This Ledaig expression is a melancholy of peat and dried fruits that boasts maturity, delivering well across both palate and nose. There’s good complexity and breadth, lending a moorish and gratifying experience that pulls you in.

At around AUD $90, I can see myself getting my hands on a bottle yet again. A dram that shows how peat can also be layered with winey influences to give you a tainted yet favourable outcome. To me, though, the 10 is the real OG, and this is a spin-off or rather a sequel that’s done well at the box office but not the real ripper!!

Slainte!