Cuvée presentation
A Ledaig single cask distilled in 1997, matured in a bourbon cask and bottled in 2018. Cadenhead's was founded in Aberdeen in 1842 by George Duncan. William Cadenhead then joined the company and, when George Duncan died in 1858, took over and renamed the business after himself. William’’s nephew Roberth Duthie developed the company in the early 20th century and it remained a family business until 1969. William Cadenhead Ltd was then sold to the Springbank distillery’’s owner J. & A. Mitchell and Co. Hedley G. Wright, a direct descendent of Archibald and John Mitchell, became William Cadenhead Ltd’’s CEO. In the past, Cadenhead had mainly sold its own brands, such as Putachieside, The Hielanman, Seven Stars and Green Label rums. Under Hedley G. Wright, the company began to take more of an interest in single malts. This led to the creation of the legendary collection of dumpy bottles in 1977. This series of single malts stood out for its very gentle filtration, lack of artificial colouring, and relatively high bottling strength for the time (80 proof/45.7% ABV). The labels included lots of information, including the month and year of distillation and bottling, and whether or not sherry casks were used. Also in 1977, the business moved to another address in Aberdeen, and finally to Campbeltown. In the 1980s, Cadenhead sold casks to legendary bottlers such as Samaroli and Corti Brothers through the subsidiary Duthie’’s. Finally, two new whisky ranges were created in 1991 and 1992, the Original Collection bottled at 46% and the Authentic Collection bottled at cask strength. Other special series to mark Cadenhead’’s major anniversaries (150 and 175 years), as well as new ranges launched since (Small Batch, World Whiskies, etc.), have all contributed to the company’’s ongoing history up to the present day. A limited edition of 222 bottles.
The distillery LEDAIG TOBERMORY
Scotland, Isle of Mull. Distillery operational. Owner: Burn Stewart Distillers, Distell.
Founded in 1798, the Isle of Mull's only distillery was, from 1972 to 1975, known as Ledaig, before being renamed Tobermory. From this now confidently assumed dual identity came two single malts with two completely different profiles. Whilst such a difference can result from different distillation methods, in this case it primarily comes down to whether or not the malt is peated. The Tobermory malt therefore becomes either Ledaig (Mr Hyde) when expressing its heavily peated, mysterious side, or Tobermory (Dr Jekyll) when revealing its more accessible, unpeated and easy-going profile. This, alongside maturations that veer from one extreme (first fill Oloroso) to another (refill bourbon), provides a glimpse of just some of what this multi-faceted distillery has to offer.Whether you prefer Ledaig or Tobermory, one thing is certain, the 1972 vintage aged in a first-fill sherry cask is in a category of its own. Whether in a distillery version or independent bottling, these expressions go through the ceiling when released for sale. Collectors take note!
Report a problem with this lot ? Report
