Thanks to /u/throwboats for sending me this sample.
I’m terrible at guessing Mysteries. Just awful. I concern myself with this because I’m worried it means I’m shit at reviewing whisky. Which is silly, because the fact I’m shit at reviewing whisky has no bearing on my mystery sample discernment.
I kid, of course. I know I’m not shit at it. Though I do worry about my ability and how people take it. Thus I keep trying.
So today we have one of the rare moments where I got something right. I, too, am shocked that I’m getting better at things. So let’s see how I did, shall we?
Price: N/A at the LCBO
Region: Island
Vintage: 07/09/2005
Bottled: 23/08/2017
Cask Type: 26 months in Hermitage Wood Finish
Number of Bottles: 4,100
Abv: 45%
Colour: 10R 5/12
Nose: Fresh strawberry compote, BBQ chicken, cinnamon bread dough, jarred artichoke
Initial nose is tons of strawberry. But not fresh, like they were cooked. And this wonderful meatiness, some spice that ramps up, and earth.
Initially, I’m thinking that there’s some sort of red wine/sherry influence. However it’s more earthy than others, and the meatiness is different here.
Taste: Thai chicken soup, grapefruit, raspberry, chocolate truffle
Interesting. More of that umami/ginger aspect. And more chocolate and raspberry notes.
So if it’s a sherry cask, it’s most likely PX due to the deeper nature. However, it’s not totally acting like a sherry cask. As for the umami? That’s closer to things that Tobermory brings out.
Finish: Edamame, saffron, apple pie, hot pickles, mineral, jerky
Saffron has a very light flavour. It’s floral. So there’s a lot of saffron here, and while light, this whisky is delicate enough to pull that off. Of which I’m impressed.
More meatiness. Alright, I’m set on that meaning its Ledaig. Which is funny, because I have four other Ledaig samples to get to. However, the floral aspects make me think this is something that mimics sherry casks, though is distinct.
Conclusion: Alright, so this is an amazing dram. It’s a unique, umami bomb. Through and through with light doses of red fruit to perk you up before you want more. I’ve been wanting to try this whisky and was very lucky to try it as a mystery. I hadn’t read many reviews, yet the meat component, the spice, the type of peat, and the “this is like sherry but not totally” aspect all work really well.
Personally, it’s a bunch of flavours that I’m a big fan of. There’s spice, there’s meat/umami, and there’s chocolate. It’s a great final dram of the night. There’s so much interesting, unique notes that it demands a high score. A sure buy from me.
87/100
Guess: Ledaig 11 2005 Hermitage
Actually: Ledaig 11 2005 Hermitage
Scotch review #910, Island review #102, Whisky Network review #1459
tomoderawhisky.ca 
Reblogged this on Toronto Whisky Society.
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