Peat, Power & Pure Hebridean Chaos
Some whiskies ease you in gently. Ledaig Hebridean Moon is not one of them.
This is a dram that kicks the door open, lets the Atlantic wind rush in, and immediately lets you know who’s in charge. Bottled at a mighty 58.8% ABV, matured in ex-bourbon casks, and proudly carrying the unmistakable DNA of Ledaig, this 10-year-old single malt is a celebration of peat, coastal grit, and Hebridean character in its most untamed form.
If you’ve ever wondered what the Isle of Mull tastes like during a stormy night, this might be the closest you’ll get without leaving dry land.
Tobermory Distillery – Where Two Whiskies Share One Soul
Perched on the colourful harbour of Tobermory Bay, Tobermory Distillery has been quietly doing its thing since 1798, making it one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries. It also happens to be the only distillery on the Isle of Mull, which gives its whiskies an unmistakable sense of place.
Tobermory produces two very different spirits under one roof:
- Tobermory – unpeated, fruity, and elegant
- Ledaig – peated, coastal, smoky, and gloriously uncompromising
Ledaig is where the distillery lets its hair down. Long fermentations, traditional worm-tub condensers, and Mull’s mineral-rich water combine to create a spirit that’s oily, weighty, and perfectly built for peat. Hebridean Moon doesn’t try to tame that character—it lets it run absolutely wild.
Isle of Mull & the Hebrides – Whisky from the Wild Edge
The Inner Hebrides are not known for being gentle, and Mull is no exception. Volcanic landscapes, rugged coastlines, and ever-changing weather define the island, and that raw environment leaves its fingerprints all over Ledaig whisky.
The maritime climate encourages slow, expressive maturation, while the salty Atlantic air seems to sneak its way into the spirit itself. Smoke, brine, iodine, and mineral notes aren’t just tasting descriptors here—they’re part of the island’s personality.
Hebridean Moon feels like a love letter to this environment: dramatic, moody, and impossible to ignore.
Tasting Notes – Ledaig Hebridean Moon
Stats
- Age: 10 Years Old
- ABV: 58.8% (117.6 Proof)
- Distillery: Tobermory (Ledaig)
- Casks: Ex-Bourbon
- Category: Scotch Single Malt Whisky
- Flavour Profile: Smoke & Storm
- Chill-Filtered: No
- Natural Colour: Yes
Nose
There’s no easing into this one. The nose comes out swinging with big, bold peat, immediately followed by tar, iodine, sea spray, ash, and salty smoke. It’s intensely maritime and unapologetically savoury.
Give it a moment and things get seriously mouth-watering. Notes of seared T-bone steak fresh off the BBQ emerge, seasoned with nothing more than cracked pepper and sea salt. Beneath the smoke, the ex-bourbon casks quietly do their thing, adding vanilla sweetness and a surprising hint of cinnamon-spiced baked cookies.
Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a subtle flash of orange bitters sneaks in, keeping things lively and layered. Bold, messy, and endlessly engaging.
Palate
The palate delivers exactly what the nose promises—and then some. Salted liquorice and caramel sweets hit first, quickly joined by roast beef, brine, and smouldering ashes. The peat is thick and chewy, but it never steamrolls the other flavours.
Bright lime zest and a touch of bitter orange cut through the richness, lifting the palate and stopping things from getting too heavy. Warming spices like cardamom and nutmeg bring depth, while vanilla pound cake adds a soft, creamy sweetness underneath it all.
For such a high-strength whisky, Hebridean Moon is surprisingly well-behaved—powerful, yes, but impressively balanced. A few drops of water open it up beautifully, nudging the sweetness forward and letting even more complexity shine.
Finish
The finish of this Ledaig Hebridean Moon is medium-long and wonderfully persistent. Salted liquorice and citrus oils hang on the longest, gradually fading into soft echoes of iodine and coastal smoke. The peat never fully leaves—it just settles into a quiet, smoky hum in the background.
Food Pairing
This is a dram that plays well with food, whether you lean savoury or sweet.
Savoury pairings:
- Roast beef
- Beef carpaccio
- Aged Gouda or other salty, firm cheeses
Sweet pairings:
- Pound madeleines
- Crème brûlée
- Panna cotta
Think lean meats and salty cheeses on one end, and creamy, vanilla-led desserts on the other. Both routes work beautifully.
Verdict
Strengths
Big, bold, complex, and wildly characterful. Ledaig Hebridean Moon is everything peat lovers crave—raw, powerful, and bursting with personality. It captures the essence of Ledaig without compromise.
Weaknesses
This Ledaig Hebridean Moon won’t convert peat sceptics. If you don’t enjoy smoke, iodine, and coastal intensity, look elsewhere. Those chasing elegance and restraint may also find it a little too loud—this dram prefers to turn the volume up, not down.
Final Thoughts
Ledaig Hebridean Moon is not a whisky that tries to please everyone—and that’s exactly why it works. It’s confident, expressive, and deeply connected to its island home. For fans of peated Scotch whisky, especially those who love coastal character and high-strength bottlings, this is an absolute thrill ride.
Wild, smoky, and unmistakably Hebridean, this is Ledaig doing what it does best: embracing the storm rather than hiding from it.
