What would you do if you found US$35 million? Would you buy that dream house? Perhaps a vacation? Some art seems only fitting. Maybe a nice watch or a statement jewellery piece. 

Has that gotten you dreaming? What if I told you where you could find it? I know, I know, it pays to be an avid reader of my reviews - it's occasionally rewarding.

I'll put it out here for you even. You'd just have to take the next flight to Glasgow, Scotland. From there, you hop on a train on the West Highland Line, which will be a 3 hour ride to Oban. There you'll get onto a ferry to Mull Island, it'll drop you at Craignure and finally a 45 minute drive will get you to Tobermory Distillery. Yep, it's that simple.

No wild goose chase, no amazing race or treasure hunt. Nah, none of that Nicholas Cage National Treasure stuff.

Now if you're up in arms thinking I fooled you, let me justify myself.

Okay, that's all fine, but where's my gold coin? (Image Source: Wikipedia)

Back in 1588, the Spanish Armada was having a little tiff with the English Navy - long story short, it didn't go so well for them. One of the Spanish ships took a bit of a beating and had no choice but to park themselves at Mull Island to have their bumper fixed - those pesky auto insurance folks take so long to get the docs sorted out! As if things couldn't get worse, the ship spectacularly blew up and took an underwater trip right to the island's seabed. But it wasn't any ship, we're pickier than that. It carried with it gold coins said to be worth US$35 million today.

Till this day, no one's found the gold coins, but you're definitely welcome for the tip.

Now if you didn't find them gold coins, fret not; the scenery's great - the village in the area is exceptionally scenic (they sometimes call it the Cinque Terre of Scotland), there's even a chocolate shop in the area that makes really good dark chocolate,...oh and there's obviously Tobermory Distillery, let's not get carried away.

Tobermory is awfully scenic with seaside cottages in bold bright colors. (Image Source: The Whisky Shop)

What's interesting then is that much like Malt, Grain & Cane's Port Charlotte (which we also reviewed, here), this fellow Hebridean distillery's flagship single malt, Tobermory, is also decidedly unpeated, while its peated sibling is named Ledaig. You'd be forgiven for calling it le'dig or l'dag, it is in fact pronounced laid'chig. I still call it ledag out of irreverence for I never found my gold coin.

As such, Ledaig is to Tobermory what Port Charlotte is to Bruichladdich. Such coincidences make me feel like there is more than meets the eye. Perhaps our dear Hampden Pirate (the sole operator of Malt, Grain & Cane) had popped by their warehouses one after another since he was already enroute. More for us, I suppoes.

Today we'll take a stab at the Ledaig.

It's a 16 Year Old, aged in a Barbados Foursquare Rum Cask, rumor has it that this was the cask. Big if true.

On the fire engine red label is something more curious - is that a girl and a snake in embrace, hatching from an egg? Boy, where do I even begin. Turning the label for some sort of desperate closure, I see the title of the bottling is "Begin Again", by artist Kristal Melson. 

"Sometimes painful endings bring the best new beginnings..."

"Buried in graphic novels and tales of otherworldly horror, Kristal Melson aka @KrisOnAutopilot focuses on both individual and universal experiences through intricate drawings. Taking cues from contemporary pop culture and mystics, her work explores the female perspective of nature in electrifying color."

Hmm, otherwordly is right... Well, I must admit the art is very edgy. Okay, I like it, Picasso!

Let's see if the whisky holds up. 

Ledaig 2005, 16 Years Old, Foursquare Rum Cask Finish, 58.7% ABV, bottled by Malt, Grain & Cane - Review

Color: Sunflower Oil 

Aroma: Gentle soothing wafts of charcoal smoke, highly aromatic, giving off waves of wood and ash. This evolves into a more bright, punchy fruitiness - red fruits of cherries, pomegranates, cranberries, and red grapes, with light touches of dried orange slices. There are lingering notes of chestnut and cream, providing a creamier, earthy note. A harmonious blending of the gently smoky whisky with its fruit-laden rum cask.

Taste: Approachable and smooth, it starts out sweet with a touch of strawberry cream candy with a buttery texture. The sweetness evolves into a slightly more citrusy grapefruit that adds a touch of acidity. The sweet smoke on the nose makes a reappearance, gentle and aromatic. The body is smooth, creamy and shows great balance.

Finish: The deep aromatic smoke takes front and center with notes of Japanese sandalwood and dried pinewood. The smooth and warm sensation leads to a long soothing finish.

My Thoughts

This whisky is a unique take on the Ledaig, having been finished in a rum cask from Barbados gem, Foursquare, a definite first and only by Singaporean independent bottler Malt, Grain & Cane. It displays absolutely great balance and harmony between cask and whisky, melding together aromatic gentle sweet smoke with a fruitier creamy body. Expect red fruits and a thoroughly enjoyable warming sensation that leads to a superbly long finish.

@CharsiuCharlie