Fragrant Drops Ledaig 17yo (Cask 44) & Fragrant Drops Aultmore 19yo (Cask 307162)

Fragrant Drops Ledaig 17yo (Cask 44)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 48.2%

Price: £95.00

Distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2025 after 17 years of maturation, this Fragrant Drops Ledaig was drawn from a single refill ex bourbon hogshead, with an outturn of 120 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with sherbet lemons, Cadbury Fudge Fingers, seawater, and menthol. The peat has faded to more of an ashy note, but there is still plenty to enjoy. There is no real alcohol spice. Returning to it, we find sour cherries, croissants, icing sugar, cashew nuts, and lemon and lime bonbons.

Palate

The palate opens with a note of dark chocolate, which carries right through to the finish. There is also light peat in the form of ash, pistachio nuts, roasted coffee, treacle, and caramel. These notes are joined by a fair amount of peppery spice on a medium length finish. The mouthfeel is just a touch thin for us, but not enough to put us off. The peat builds as we continue to sip.

Nose (with water)

With dilution, we get a very different dram: a hint of ammonium, followed by melon, and green and red apples. These notes are all coming through quite strongly, with most of the pre-dilution notes dimmed. It benefits from time in the glass, as the nose opens up more with patience after dilution. The peat is now slightly more medicinal.

Palate (with water)

Some of that mint from the nose carries through onto the palate, and like the nose, the peat feels more medicinal in nature. The mouthfeel has not suffered from dilution, in fact it may be slightly improved. There is still a decent amount of spice, though it is not off-putting. We are also getting more treacle and some cherry.

Conclusion

See, this is all you need: good spirit, refill wood, and time. The result is a very solid mid-teens Ledaig with a nice balance between cask and distillate. More of this, please. It drinks a little more like a refill sherry cask than a bourbon to us, but that is no bad thing.

Score: 7/10

Value

Good price for an Indie release of decently aged Ledaig.

Fragrant Drops Aultmore 19yo (Cask 307162)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 55.2%

Price: £95.00

Distilled on the 18th October 2006 and bottled on the 17th November 2025 after 19 years of maturation, this Fragrant Drops single cask Aultmore was matured in a refill bourbon cask. The outturn was 254 bottles.

Nose

The nose is initially a little tight, but with patience butterscotch, vanilla pod, melon, and a light pepper spice begin to appear, showcasing the ABV. Returning to it, we also find a fleeting note of chlorine, along with bread rolls and Granny Smith apples. Those fruity notes aren’t overly intense, with the bread and savoury notes leading.

Palate

The palate opens with lemon, plasticine, and Play-Doh, which carry through to the finish. The mouthfeel is good and coats the tongue nicely. On the mid-palate, we find strawberry syrup, black tea, and tobacco. These are joined by pepper spice and chocolate chips on a medium-length finish.

Nose (with water)

A few drops of water do not bring much change. If anything, it shows the ABV a little more, with a note of coffee fudge appearing, but otherwise it remains largely unchanged.

Palate (with water)

With dilution there is less spice on the medium length finish. We are now getting more chocolate and caramel, with the mouthfeel remaining nicely coating. A roasted coffee bitterness joins the pre-dilution notes. It is very chocolate forward now, think Cadbury Milk Chocolate, quite decadent now.

Conclusion

We prefer this with water. It is a touch more one dimensional, but it is a good dimension. We will say it again: less finishing, more refill wood.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

A good price once again for some decently aged liquid.

• 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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