Review #123: Tobermory Heavily Peated Ex-Bourbon Hogshead - Single Cask Nation

Tobermory (Ledaig) Heavily Peated Ex-Bourbon Hogshead - Single Cask Nation

Single Cask Nation is a relative newcomer to the IB business. Their shtick is that they do single cask releases and keep it kosher. This one is an ex-bourbon hogshead distilled July 2005 and bottled August 2015. Though they label it Tobermory, it is peated, therefor it is a Ledaig.

Island - 10 years old - NCF - NCA - Sample ($105 at the local) - 56.7%

Color - Pale Straw

Nose - Peat - fishing nets, rubber cement, lemon zest, malty, and a touch of sweetness - water brings out the rubber but mutes the sea notes

Taste - Smoke, lemon, malt - water brings out more smoke

Finish - Medium - Coming in hot - Smoke, smoked oysters, lemon, and dough - water takes out the heat but leaves just the smoke

Overall - 5.5 - This was pretty straight forward and one note. It came on a little too hot at the end, which is strange because the higher ABV 8 year old I just tried didn't have the heat. Though it was nice, it wasn't blanced or complex enough to garner its 3 figure price tag. I think some sweetness would have helped this out a lot. I have found that the SCN releases have been higher priced than they deserved across the board. I would take the Old Hepburn 8 over this regardless of price.

Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5.5 Solid Dram, but they probably wouldn't discount enough to buy

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.89

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16