Review #277 & #278: Five Lions Lediag 11 Maderia & Five Lions 7 Port

Five Lions is a newer IB that has popped up on the scene lately.  They seem to do a lot of wine finishes which has put them on my radar.  I tried doing a little research on them but it appears that they are two German guys who had some extra cash and turned their hobby into a business.  

Ledaig is the heavily peated line of whisky on the Isle of Mull that Tobermory produces.  Tobermory is known for including a larger cut of the feints in their whisky.  Both of these are aged in first fill fortified red wine barrels.  They are also both aged in barrique barrels, which are slightly smaller than a hogshead (59 US gallons vs 64) and taller, which would imply more wood contact.  

Five Lions 2007 Ledaig 11 1st fill Maderia Barrique

Island - 11 - NCF - NCA - $130 - 57.8%

Color - Burnished

Nose - Some big funk on the first sniff, diesel, estuary puddle, cherry cola, papaya, citrus and underneath it all some subtle feinty sweaty plastic hard to describe funk

Palate -  Dr Pepper, leather, tobbaco, diesel, cigar boxes
Finish - Medium - Cherry, cola, chocolate, lapsang, tar, slight salt, a touch hot.

Overall - 7 - The dram opened up a little in the month since I had it.  At first, I was regretting the purchase, not because it was bad, but because there were better Ledaigs on the shelf I didn't buy.  Now that it is opened up, I am enjoying it. There is a nice pervasive cherry cola and peat.  It is in balance, both always present but never overwhelming the other. There is enough feinty funk to remind

Five Lions 2009 Peatside (Teaspooned Ledaig)7 1st fill Port Barrique

Island - 7 - NCF - NCA - $120 - 53.3%

Color - Burnished

Nose -  Cherry, sea moss, diesel smoke, roasted lemons

Palate - Cherry, caramel, burnt toast, cigar ashes
Finish - Medium - Cherry and chocolate that fade into hospital smells, seaweed and smoke - a touch hot

Overall - 6 - The nose on this is much more muted than on the other dram.  The peat on this dram is much stronger than on the prior dram.  Still that cherry and peat mix, but more on the peat side.  This is still good, enjoyable but is less complex. I think that this could afford a few more years in the barrel.  

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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 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

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 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16