However, the ship in question – depicted on the box in Turneresque expressionist splendour, listing forward engulfed in waves as it fights through a ferocious storm – has nothing to do with Nelson or Napoleon or Russel Crowe for that matter. After yet another year of challenges for the whisky industry, it was time to celebrate the inventiveness of its best people and places in the Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards and the innovation of its producers in the World Whiskies Awards. There’s spice after a little time for the glass to mature, slightly citrus like lemon pepper. It’s a very well balanced and married set of aromas and a very friendly nose indeed. If we decide not to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms, such decision shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. It follows the Icons of Whisky regional Ireland leg, the first of the 2022 awards, which took place at Dublin’s Iveagh Garden Hotel on 25th November.

Ledaig Whisky - RMW - Royal Mile Whiskies Ledaig Whisky - RMW - Royal Mile Whiskies

The full list of winners and highly commended people and places can be found below as well as at www.iconsofwhisky.com When all of the local clan-killing was done, and the ship’s provisions were secured, it was time for the Spanish to set sail. Unfortunately, before they could scarper, one of the ship’s provisioners blew up the boat, killing almost everyone on board and sinking the San Juan de Sicilia – along with its rumoured cargo of Spanish gold – to the bottom of Tobermory Bay. As mentioned above the colour of this liquid is a beautiful reddish gold with a hefty tint of pink mixing in there. A poorly mixed tequila sunrise in a Whisky bottle. Now from an in depth 2 minutes of Googling I still cannot confirm or deny the use of caramel colouring but you wouldn’t mess with this… right?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.

Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja — DRAMFACE Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja — DRAMFACE

Each and every Member must be of legal drinking age in its country of residence to be allowed to use the Service. If no such law exists in a Member’s country of residence, the Member has to be over 21 years old to use the Service. We have the right to ask you to provide proof of your age and/or to provide further identification to prevent underage usage and/or for any other legal or legitimate purpose. By using the Service, and by creating an account you represent, warrant and confirm that you are of legal age. On Thursday 2nd December, The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh welcomed the Scotch whisky industry’s finest, from bartenders to brand ambassadors, and retailers to visitor attraction managers, to celebrate the country’s 2022 Icons. The ceremony saw The Glenturret Distillery take the coveted Distiller of the Year title, while Glengoyne (part of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd) was named Sustainable Distillery of the Year – a category which has seen increased entries as environmental issues move up the whisky-making agenda. 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 event also saw the announcement of the Round 1 Category Winners for Scotland in the World Whiskies Awards 2022, and the unveiling of two new Scottish inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame: John L S Grant and Peter Gordon. Part of the Sinclair Series, created in honour of founder John Sinclair and inaugurated in late 2020 with this very bottle, it’s currently still the only release under this line.Surprisingly thin on the first swish leaving a mild TCP tang on the tongue. Fortunately each further sip brings a little something extra to the party from burnt marzipan to salted pork chops. While it certainly brings a variety of associations in the mind, none really squeeze the taste buds hostage. The finish ends on a high with a savoury vegetal smoke: think of putting a cabbage patch fire out with a jar of Marmite. That last one is a positive in my book. Christopher Coates, Editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “This year’s results are a testament to the great work that’s been done by Scotch whisky makers over the past year. It’s truly delightful to see the Scottish industry growing at a rapid pace and drinkers’ interest in Scotch whisky increasing exponentially. I’m certain this positive trend will continue and that competition in our Icons of Whisky categories will remain fierce for decades to come.” Palate: A very pleasing mouthfeel. Buttery smooth and rich. An immediate heavenly mix of sweet BBQ smoked meats, rich forest fruit deep seeetness and Christmas spices.

Ledaig Rioja Cask Sample - Sinclair Series - The Whisky Exchange Ledaig Rioja Cask Sample - Sinclair Series - The Whisky Exchange

As the world of drinks has slowly but surely began to make its journey to the ‘new normal’, the Icons of Whisky regional awards are reflecting that with a return to in-person ceremonies. This bottle certainly has got personality and the Rioja steers it away from the standard 10yo into much sweeter seas. I imagine this could be a bottle that divides the crowd and I’m pleased to have grabbed this bottle on offer and would be happy to have it come aboard my ship again. For me the biggest pet peeve is it has the cheek to be part of a series with no other bottles on the horizon. We may, but are not under any obligation, to release new functionalities and tools or other features for the Service every now and then. Any new functionalities, tools and features shall be part of and governed by the Terms from the moment they are launched and/or available. Further, we reserve the right to modify, change, discontinue the Service, add or remove features, update the Service, change its appearance, temporarily and permanently, at any time, in whole or any part thereof. A rather simple whisky, without a lot of frills, which for the chosen price range is more than acceptable, pity though for that unpleasant note on the nose that appears with every sip and ruins part of the pleasure of drinking. That isn’t to say it’s deft in its manoeuvres. It’s a fairly evenly spread blast of the more bitter-edged fruits - grapefruit, orange pith and almost a lemon zest spritz. The finish is long enough that I’m still tasting the echos of that sooty peat, but with the ghost of a boiled sweet around the periphery.If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, the remainder of the Terms shall continue in full force and effect. On the nose: Fruit tarts with a pleasant, worty sweetness. Maybe it’s because I knew that it was finished in Rioja casks, but there were definite cherry and plum aromas with a feinty-leathery underbelly you’d expect from a Gran Reserva. The smoke and spice – which are hard to get hold of – are subdued under the weight of the fruit. Unless mandatory applicable law provides otherwise, your use of and membership to the Service are exclusively governed by Dutch law. We shall first try to settle any dispute over a dram of whisky. Disputes that cannot be settled over multiple drams of whisky shall be solely submitted to the court of Amsterdam, The Netherlands unless mandatory applicable law provides otherwise. Despite a colourful history marked by closures, financial troubles and even a change of name, today Tobermory is a thriving, expressive and unique distillery, true to its idyllic location on the Hebridean island of Mull.