Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon Refill and ex-Guinness
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: www.malts.com
Vote: 88/100
Nick Offerman and his passion for Lagavulin whisky (shared by many, judging by a recent social poll) has already been discussed, in great detail, in the review of the first release of this dedicated bottling.
Today we have the chance to taste the second release, which features a 4-month maturation in ex-Guinness casks from the Open Gate Brewery in Maryland. Why the casks come from the United States and not Ireland, the womb and cradle of Guinness, is unknown. But what matters, as always, is that the result lives up to expectations which, as far as we are concerned, when it comes to Lagavulin, are always high.
In the summary sheet, the indicative price is the ‘recommended’ one at the time of release.
Tasting notes
The colour is gold.
The nose is saline and makes us think of a sunrise on the beach: seaweed on the shoreline, a long-extinguished bonfire; a memory of a barbecue, with ashes of embers and burnt fat; damp wood, as if the party had been interrupted by rain; a forgotten feminine scarf that smells of jasmine and vanilla; a bit of sweet pipe tobacco and cigarette smoke (between chatting, after cuddling). It’s a remarkable sensory picture, enriched by notes of floor wax, sage-lemon, incense and smoked ham.
In the mouth we are still on the beach with salt and seaweed, but the actual grilling was probably over and it was time for dessert, with salted caramel and custard. While someone was smoking a cigarette, someone else had brought out some fruit, with apricot and orange peel. A nice dusting of black pepper and a suggestion of Guinness (reminding us of refinement).
The finish is warm and peppery, second by second the smoke becomes more evanescent until it disappears completely, while salted caramel, ash and custard play the last notes.
All and all, the rather risky finish is well managed and doesn’t compromise the proverbial balance of Lagavulin’s whisky, in a high-profile dram, soft and persuasive in body and particularly evocative in aromatic range.