This delightful cask finished whisky is the first of the new Sinclair series from Tobermory’s Ledaig brand.

The Sinclair series is named after John Sinclair, a maverick businessman who played an integral role in the establishment of Tobermory distillery. Sinclair’s original profession was as kelp merchant, with seaweed growing in abundance around the isle of Mull. At the time, kelp was prized as a source of soda ash, but nevertheless, Sinclair had greater ambitions, and applied for the ownership of a stretch of land known as Ledaig (produced ‘letch-ick’). Initially, Sinclair was knocked back, but he tried again, and in 1798 established a distillery on the site.

The distillery has suffered various calamities, closures and financial troubles since its foundation, but like Sinclair, has preserved to become the successful operation we know today.

The whisky made to honour Sinclair has been finished in Rioja casks. There’s a story behind this too – legend has it a Spanish galleon sank outside the Tobermory harbour over four centuries ago. The ship was said to be laden with gold and jewels, and Ledaig decided on a Rioja cask to commemorate the Spanish sunken treasure off the Mull shoreline.

The result is a beautiful combination of Ledaig’s naturally smoky, oily spirit, and the sweet fruitiness of Rioja. Drinkers can expect notes of red grapes, dark chocolate, thick peat smoke, iodine, sea spray, cut grass, plums, raspberries, burnt oak, cinnamon spice, toasted almonds, caramel and cloves.

Bottled at 46.3% ABV and without chill filtration or colouration, this is a seriously delicious dram.

• Product type
  Single Malt
• Distillery / brand
  Ledaig
• Country
  Scotland
• Region
  Island
• Bottler
  Distillery Bottling
• Non-chillfiltered
  Yes
• Natural colour
  Yes
• SKU
  043133