Ledaig 5 Years (2020/2025) - James Eadie
Ledaig is the smoky twin of the Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull – long a hot tip for anyone after peated whisky away from Islay. This release comes from independent bottler James Eadie's "Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland Commemorative" series: distilled in 2020, bottled in October 2025, so just five years young, matured in one refill barrel and two refill hogsheads. Bottled at 52.6 % ABV cask strength and limited to 1,015 bottles. The second review by our tasters Florian and Lucas.
Tasting Notes
Nose
First the smoke, never far away with Ledaig, but it quickly clears to reveal bright fruit and above all a distinct pear. Floral notes follow, along with a malty sweetness that frames the youthful spirit nicely. An open, fresh nose without much fuss.
Palate
On the palate the smoke leads, accompanied by restrained oak. The pear returns, this time more like Williams pear or fruit schnapps, and the malty sweetness holds its ground. At 52.6 % it shows its rough edges here, but stays straightforward and easy to grasp.
Finish
The finish brings a little light oak and smoke again, through which the bright fruit briefly shines once more. A maritime note flashes up, but overall the finish is on the short side – fitting for the malt's youth.
Thoughts
Florian67/100 - (Good)
It has its rough edges thanks to the young age and cask strength. Even so, a good character runs right through it – straightforward, almost simple, but coherent.
More about Florian →
Lucas68/100 - (Good)
A rather simple whisky whose age you notice from the very first sip. Smoke and pear run through the whole dram – an easy sipper that would have taken a few more years in the cask well, though.
More about Lucas →Value for Money: 4/5 (Good)
Discover our value for money winnersThis product was kindly provided to us by Kirsch Import. This does not influence our rating. No payments or other benefits were received in exchange for this provision.
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Ledaig 17 Years (2006/2024) - Gordon & MacPhail
With Ledaig 2006/2024, Gordon & MacPhail once again demonstrates how much character a single cask can shape. This single malt from the Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull matured for 17 years in a first fill sherry hogshead, bringing together maritime wildness and deep sherry richness. Not a crowd-pleasing easy sipper, but a whisky with edges, attitude, and a clear identity.
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Ledaig 17 Years (2006/2024) - Gordon & MacPhail
The Ledaig 17 years 2006/2024 from Gordon & MacPhail is definitely not a whisky for everyone. Those who prefer harmonious, pleasing single malts should steer clear of it. This Scotch from the Isle of Mull is a statement whisky that does not hide its industrial origins from the Tobermory distillery - on the contrary, it celebrates them. With an alcohol strength of 56.5% and 17 years of maturation in sherry casks, it presents itself as an uncompromising character whisky that polarises.
Tobermory 12 Years (2017)
The Tobermory Distillery may not be as well-known as the big names from Scotland, but its whiskies have a charm all of their own. The Tobermory 12 years, released in 2017, is an exciting representative of the distillery. With its 46.3% ABV and no chill filtration, it promises an honest, natural bottling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Ledaig and Tobermory?
Both come from the same distillery on the Isle of Mull. The unpeated style is bottled under the name Tobermory, while Ledaig denotes the smoky, peated version of the same distillery. So it isn't a separate site, but a second product line.
Who is James Eadie?
James Eadie is an independent Scottish bottler with historical roots in the 19th century, today releasing single casks and small batches from various distilleries. This release is part of the "Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland Commemorative" series.
Is a whisky only five years old at cask strength worth it?
A young whisky like this shows the spirit very directly and unpolished. With a characterful smoky malt like Ledaig that can be genuinely appealing – you get plenty of distillery character for the money, but should expect a few more rough edges than with older bottlings.
