SMWS 42.36 “Lunch At The Lighthouse” Review

Checking the SMWS Codes, this is a Ledaig (peated Tobermory) and it's among the better Ledaigs I've had. Often Ledaig comes across sooty, sulfury or funky, but this comes across clean and crisp. So much so that I thought it might be a Caol Ila when we tasted this SMWS 42.36 "Lunch At The Lighthouse" at the blind event.

Not much more to bring to the table on this. It's an indie bottle of Ledaig. So... on with the Scotch review!

SMWS 42.36 "Lunch At The Lighthouse" Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Sea air breezed over the salt crusted decking of the lighthouse as we sat down for lunch. Our spread included parma ham with rye bread coated with fennel seeds and dollops of fruit pickle. Sweet things brought rum soaked strawberries, ginger marmalade and vanilla honey whilst to drink our selection contained apple and blackcurrant juice, kelp stout and fizzy cider. Butter on toasted malt loaf was creamy and chewy on the palate and was joined by salted liquorice with a hint of smoke. A touch of peppermint brought a peppery spice that progressed into herbal seas before a lively finish of homemade lemonade refreshed us.

SMWS 42.36 "Lunch At The Lighthouse": Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Islands, Scotland (Highland)

Distiller: Ledaig (Tobermory Distillery)
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: Second-fill ex-Bourbon
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 61.9%

Price: $120

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

SMWS 42.36 "Lunch At The Lighthouse": Tasting Notes

NOSE
Dried fruit, roasted malt, plastic and spice with a touch of smoke and light herbal notes.

PALATE
Peat, smoked meat, sherry sweetness, herbal notes, fresh rolls, french vanilla and some spice with light maritime notes.

FINISH
Long -> Peat, candied oranges, vanilla taffy and caramel.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, full body and a round oily feel.

SMWS 42.36 "Lunch At The Lighthouse" Review: Overall and Score

Big bold and balanced... but lacking a bit in depth. The SMWS 42.36 "Lunch At The Lighthouse" shows a nice bit of elegance on the palate, but the aroma is rather muted and light. A solid whisky through and through, but it needs some water and time to open.

A splash brings out some sweet honied biscuit notes that border on sugar cookie on the aroma along with some sooty/dirty smoke. The palate gets a tad waxy and smokier and comes across a bit dirtier... but the good kind of dirty.

SCORE: 87/100 (B+)