Cadenheads Ledaig 14yo Original Collection February 2025 & Cadenheads Bunnahabhain 15yo Authentic Collection March 2025

Cadenheads Ledaig 14yo Original Collection February 2025

Region: Highlands

ABV: 46.0%

Price: £75.00

There’s limited information available on this 14 year old release, other than the fact that it was matured in bourbon casks. There’s also no mention of how many bottles were produced.

Nose

The nose opens with notes of Sprite, lemon sherbet, and dry earth. There’s a nuttiness in the form of dry-roasted peanuts, and a lingering smoke in the background that reminds us of smoked kippers. There’s also Dove soap, alongside flambéed orange peel, fudge, vanilla essence, and a touch of dunnage funk. A hint Grapefruit appears with patience alongside some peppery spice.

Palate

This is initially tight and leaning towards the drier side, though there is a touch of sugar cube sweetness, but not much. A solid punch of smoke arrives on the mid palate, accompanied by warming cinnamon and pepper spice that lingers through the finish. With time, lemonade, dirty water, marshmallows, seafood bisque, and banana starts to appear. The whisky drinks hotter than its 46% ABV. though that might be down to the spice. The mouthfeel is good given its dilution level, and there’s still enough flavour and texture to enjoy this.

Nose (with water)

With water, the dunnage funk becomes more pronounced, but the ethanol and spice are also more noticeable. The nose turns drier and more savoury, with less smoke. We’re also getting a spritzy note, light charred wood smoke, hessian cloth, and a dusty-cupboard note. As it sits in the glass, a bit more smoke starts to creep back in.

Palate (with water)

The whisky holds up well to dilution. The smoke remains, alongside that “dirty water” note, now joined by a bitter chocolate, a touch of honey, tobacco, leather, and lemon peel. The mouthfeel remains solid, and the finish is medium-length with no significant changes.

Conclusion

A tasty well balanced dram that drinks well at its bottled ABV. For us, this doesn’t need dilution, as it shift the dram towards a drier, more savoury profile that we’re less enthusiastic about. Our biggest complaint, we can’t help but feel like this at cask strength could have been a real banger. Still what we got was pretty good.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

For £75, it feels like this should have been released at cask strength.

Cadenheads Bunnahabhain 15yo Authentic Collection March 2025

Region: Islay

ABV: 56.2%

Price: £75.00 

Distilled in 2009, the spirit was transferred in 2018 to a Cabernet Franc hogshead that had previously been used to mature Longrow Red. It was then bottled in March 2025, with a total release of 265 bottles.

Nose

On the nose, freshly squeezed lime juice and ground cashew nuts lead the way. We’re not getting spice, just a touch of black pepper in the background. Burnt toffee and coffee granules follow, along with Cadbury’s fudge, cinnamon, and caramel. Light ashy peat comes through as well, joined by brown sugar and a distinct log-fire smokiness. To be honest, the nose wouldn make us think this had seen a sherry cask.

Palate

On the palate, the alcohol is nicely balanced and we’re finding it easy to drink. It opens with sweet caramel and a touch of limeade. As it moves into the mid-palate, we get red berries, crispy back bacon, and charred wood. The medium length finish has residual sweetness and a hint of peppery spice. The blind nose suggested to us a sherry cask. However, the palate clearly leans more towards red wine. The mouthfeel is good but not exceptional, and as with the nose, the peat influence remains fairly light.

Nose (with water)

With water added, the nose doesn’t change drastically, still reminds us of a sherry matured whisky. We do pick up more chocolate now, along with a hint of gammon (smoked ham), plus more pronounced noted of toffee, caramel, and fudge. There’s also a little warehouse too, with a touch of aniseed and prunes. The smoke has also been slightly dampened.

Palate (with water)

On the reduced palate, the sweetness is enhanced while a slightly more bitter coffee note emerges mid palate. Some of those red wine tannins become more noticeable now, creating a drier texture on the finish. That said, the mouthfeel is improved, and the finish still carries plenty of sweetness.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a well executed red wine finish that isn’t overly tannic. This is a solid example of Bunnahabhain, though it might not be the first choice for those who prefer their Bunnahabhain with a more noticeable peat influence.

Score: 7/10

Value

£75 for a 15-year-old peated Bunnahahain? That’s not a bad deal at all.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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